Dumalag FITS Center subsidizes seeds to 200 hybrid rice farmers

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

The Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Dumalag, Capiz led the distribution of 88 bags of hybrid rice seeds allocated to some 200 hectares of rice production area across the municipality.

Dumalag farmers take stock
of the opportunity spearheaded by their LGU.

Led by Mrs. Ronelyn De Tomas, FITS Center manager, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Dumalag facilitated the “Plant Now, Pay Later” seed subsidy program in partnership with SL Agritech Corporation, a producer of hybrid rice seeds based in Sta. Cruz, Laguna and represented by Mr. Claro Santos and Mr. Tomas Jimenez, national officers.

Assisted by Mr. Rhian Labrador and Mr. Jess Seposo, SL Agritech’s field sales officers for Capiz and Iloilo, a number of Dumalag farmers were given opportunity to buy SL-8H Super Hybrid Rice Seeds at 500 pesos less than the price of 3 hybrid seed bags; with the slashed cost paid for by the local government of Dumalag. The Plant Now, Pay Later scheme forms part of Dumalag FITS Center’s seed subsidy program which also includes partnerships with other hybrid rice brands such as Pioneer and Bigante.

Information Services Specialist Bernie Protacio said that in 2011, some 400 hectares or roughly 10 percent of the total rice area (3,779.5 hectares) in Dumalag, capiz was planted to hybrid rice; while the rest were planted to inbred variety. According to Protacio, Dumalag farmers prefer to grow hybrid rice because they plant two times and harvest four times across the year. “Farmers enjoy higher productivity and increase in yield,” Protacio said.

In this FITS center initiative, farmers are taught
how to manage their hybrid rice and increase productivity.

For her part, FITS Center Manager De Tomas said that this is only an initial figure, as they expect increase in the future, owing to their current seed subsidy programs and similar campaigns promoting hybrid rice production in Dumalag.

Supported by Ms. Teresita Badilla, technology services specialist and Gerlie Catalan, research staff, the Dumalag fits Center is monitored by the Capiz State University under the auspices of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (WESVARRDEC) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

HEADS UP HIGH (Clockwise from top left) "High breed, not high blood," says Jess Seposo, of the advantages of hybrid rice production; Dumalag FITS Center Manager   Ronelyn De Tomas promotes the payoffs of hybrid rice; an SL-8H sample variety comes in polypropylene plastic sack; and SL Agritech's Tomas Jimenez shares best  practices to farmers.