By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—A hybrid super
rice variety from China found its new home in Ilocos Norte province with its
successful field trial initially planted on a three-hectare lot in Der-ap, a
sub-village of Saoit in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
Planted during the wet season
of June, the 250-farmer beneficiaries received a grant of five tons of LP 331
super rice variety where it yielded about 12-15 tons per hectare.
Compared to the local
variety, the desired yield is quite similar to the China rice variety but its
significant characteristic is its greater resistance to climate change, said
ex-officio Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Domingo Ambrocio, chair of the
committee on agriculture.
On October 3, a team of
Chinese rice experts led by Cheng Liangji, co-director of the
Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) based in Central
Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija conducted a
site visit and gathered feedback from the local farmers who tested the
technology.
According to Mr.
Ambrocio, the Chinese government may consider granting another five
to ten tons more in the next rice planting season to accommodate more Ilocano
farmers to try other China rice varieties, which are weather-resistant and
high-yielding.
To strengthen the bilateral
relations and friendship of the Peoples Republic of China and the Philippines,
the Chinese government through its Chinese Consulate Center in Laoag
distributed hybrid rice seeds (LP 331) to Ilocos Norte farmers, one of the
country’s top five rice producers based on national rice self-sufficiency
performance.
In 2015, the Office of the
Provincial Agriculture led by Provincial Agriculturist Norma Lagmay reported an
increase of 2.16 percent rice production in Ilocos Norte compared to 2014 and
the surplus production improved by 4.82 % from 165.27 % in 2014 to 173.23% in
2015.
Through its flagship
agriculture program “Paspas Dur-as Biag ti Away,” (rapid development in the
rural areas), the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte continues to enhance
the productivity of the agriculture sector by providing support to Ilocano
farmers as well as improving farming practices across the province.
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