ILOILO — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated 51,630 bags of hybrid and inbred seeds to rice farmers in Iloilo for the first cropping season, aiming to enhance agricultural productivity across the province’s vast rice plantations.
According to Philippines News Agency, head of the Provincial Agriculture Office, the seeds are intended to cultivate an equivalent area of 51,630 hectares, with the distribution managed directly through local municipalities to ensure farmers have easy access. "Only those listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture are qualified to avail of seeds," Toledo stated in an interview on Friday. The seed distribution is part of a broader strategy to improve yields and includes additional resources such as fertilizer vouchers, ameliorants, and bio-fertilizers.
The total seed allocation includes 31,670 bags for the hybrid cluster and 19,960 for the inbred cluster. Toledo highlighted that alongside the DA's contributions, the provincial government supports rice production through several initiatives, including programs focused on hybrid and inbred rice production and the Jalaur premium rice production project.
Further support for farmers includes training in seed production to foster self-sufficiency. "We also train our farmers on seed production so they can produce their seeds. They will be provided with registered seeds to grow on their farms. Hopefully, the inbred registered seeds can produce certified seeds that they can grow immediately in their farms," Toledo explained.
Iloilo boasts 144,000 hectares of rice plantations, with 42,000 hectares irrigated and the remainder dependent on rain-fed systems. Last year, the province achieved its target production of 1 million metric tons, averaging a yield of 3.75 metric tons per hectare. With the ongoing programs, including the Province-Led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES), Iloilo aims to increase its yield to between 5.5 and 6 metric tons per hectare.