Hybrid rice farmers turn in impressive yields, win prizes

MANILA, Philippines – Five farmers in Occidental Mindoro who were adjudged top producers of hybrid rice  in this year’s dry cropping season, received  cash prizes and plaques of appreciation at simple rites held recently at the Calintaan municipal gym.

Ramil Jimenez of Poblacion, Calintaan, topped the “Search for hybrid rice highest yielder,” chalking up 258 cavans per hectare by planting the SL-8H hybrid rice variety.

The search was initiated jointly by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) headed by Romel Yngson and SL Agritech Corp. represented by Cathy Galura and Dr. Noel Mamicpic, senior vice president for operation and vice president for research, respectively.

Jimenez, who received P30,000 cash prize from SL Agritech, said his average harvest for planting the hybrid rice variety in the last two planting seasons was 230 cavans per hectare, way above his previous harvests of only 70-80 cavans.         

Last year’s winner was Severino Payumo of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, who harvested 345.6 cavans last year.

Placing second and third behind Jimenez were Michael Viduya of Pitogo, Rizal, and Edward Importante also of Poblacion, Calintaan, who turned in yields of 250 and 236 cavans per hectare, respectively.

They were trailed by Francisco Viduya, also of Pitogo, Rizal, with 230; and Rick Rodriguez of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Sablayan with 228 cavans per hectare.

In Oriental Mindoro, the first prize winner was Julio Jocson Sr. of Masipit, Calapan City, who went home with a prize of P30,000 for harvesting 203 cavans per hectare. Sergio Enriquez of Personas, Calapan City , went home with P20,000 for placing second with a harvest of 200 cavans per hectare.