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| The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 8 launched the first Provincial Hybrid Rice Cluster Farm (PHRCF) in Brgy. Tabunok, Hilongos, Leyte on June 22. Photo: DA-Eastern Visayas |
TACLOBAN CITY – In collaboration with PLGU-Leyte, MLGU-Hilongos, NIA-8, and private seed companies, the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office 8 launched the first Provincial Hybrid Rice Cluster Farm (PHRCF) in Brgy. Tabunok, Hilongos, Leyte on June 22.
The Provincial Hybrid Rice Cluster Farm aims to promote farmers' adoption of new rice farming technologies by showcasing hybrid rice production. The PHRCF also intends to incorporate the clustering strategy for production, harvesting, processing, and marketing.
The Hilongos-Tabunok Irrigators' Association has been chosen as the partner farmer group for this Dry Season, which will run from March to September 2022, and 11 seed companies will be participating, including Aljay, TAO, Syngenta, Bioseed, Leads Agri, Corteva, SL AgriTech, Longping, PhilRice, Bayer, and SeedWorks.
Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, Regional Technical Director Larry U. Sultan, and other regional office staff attended the event.
Municipal Mayor Albert R. Villahermoso; Alberto Amarilla Jr., assistant provincial agriculturist of Leyte; Dr. Nenita Sultan, OPA-Leyte provincial rice program coordinator; Uldarico Amihan, regional chief of the National Seed Quality Control Service; and Elma P. Oja, municipal agriculturist were also present during the launching ceremony.
Aside from the launching ceremony, the Davao-based New Hope Corporation demonstrated the use of drone technology on farm seeding.
The PHRCF is a collaborative effort of the national government, provincial and municipal local government units, and the private sector to co-implement and co-invest in agricultural service delivery. Its implementation began during the 2021-2022 Dry Season and will be continued during each cropping season.
It will require a minimum area of 100 hectares for cluster farm sites in RCEF provinces and 50 hectares in non-RCEF provinces. Hybrid rice varieties, crop establishment, farm mechanization, and nutrient management are among the technologies to be showcased. (Source: DA-RFO VIII, RAFIS)