Hybrid rice development and use in the Philippines, 1998-2001
2003
Redoña, E.D. | Malabanan, F.M. | Gaspar, M.G. | de Leon, J.C. | Sebastian, L.S.
The development and use of hybrid rice technology as a major approach for further increasing rice productivity gained national prominence in the Philippines with the launching of a national hybrid rice program under the Department of Agriculture (DA) in January 1998. With the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) at the helm, activities on research and development (RandD), seed production, training, technology demonstrations, and information dissemination on hybrid rice were undertaken nationwide. The hybrid rice research program at PhilRice, with 18 multidisciplinary projects conducted by more than 80 scientists, was strengthened with the establishment of a hybrid rice center and collaboration with IRRI and other national programs, the private sector, and Chinese hybrid rice RandD institutions. Season-long training activities for prospective hybrid seed growers in strategic areas led to the organization of cooperatives that began producing hybrid seed on a commercial scale starting in 2000. The more than 1,000 trainers, agricultural technicians, seed inspectors, and local government officials that were trained on hybrid rice seed production and cultivation techniques extended this new knowledge to hybrid rice seed growers and cultivators. On large-scale technology demonstration farms, the hybrid rice Mestizo showed more than a 1.2 t ha¯¹ yield advantage over the best inbred varieties during 1997-99 and 1.3 t ha¯¹ in commercial cultivation areas during the 2001 wet season. Private-sector participation also increased in the areas of breeding, seed production, and technology promotion. In 2002, the hybrid rice program was embraced as the banner program for agricultural modernization by the Philippine government.
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