The Department of Agriculture (DA) is distributing cost-free hybrid rice seeds as part of the goal to boost its adoption in at least 40 percent of rice farmers in the country.
Hybrid rice seeds yield up to 6 tons per hectare (ha) in the wet season and up to 8 tons per hectare in the dry season in target areas by 2028.
Under memorandum order 31-2023 signed by Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian on 24 April, hybrid seed support is provided in rice-producing cities and municipalities with good irrigation facilities and favorable rainfed areas, preferably with the presence of clustered farmers such as irrigator associations (IAs), farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs).
DA regional field offices select the top five hybrid varieties that have yielded at least 5 tons per hectare and a yield average of at least 1 ton per hectare over certified inbred seeds within the region.
The memorandum adds that yield data per hybrid variety from regional field trials, technology demonstration, techno forum, rice crop manager advisory services or local government data can also be used as the basis for hybrid seed procurement.
Clustered farmers who are members of IAs and FCAs have priority and farmers who are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and enrolled in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System are eligible to receive free hybrid seeds from the project.
To maximize area planted to hybrid seeds, only farmers cultivating at least 1,000 square meters or more as declared in the RSBSA are eligible to receive hybrid seeds.
Hybrid seeds that have been bred using two superior parents intentionally selected for their desired traits, yield a higher volume compared to inbred seeds.
However, some farmers still prefer inbred seeds over hybrid seeds as the latter is more expensive.
