Palayabangan: the 10-5 challenge best practices in Isabela [Philippines]

With the onset of ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), rice production in the Philippines must become competitive in the regional market. With that, one of the challenging goals of rice integrated management sector is to increase production above the national level of 4.0 t/ha while production cost is about P11/kg. The Department of Agriculture and PhilRice launched Palayabangan: The 10-5 challenge in all PhilRice Stations to showcase the best technologies of all players in rice sector that can achieve 10 tons/ha at F5 input cost. The average yield and production cost of Palayabangan participants in Isabela is about 5.84t/ha or 31% increase in yield and P6.69/kg or 39% decrease in production cost comparing the data from the national level. Majority of the participants used hybrid rice seeds for both wet and dry season. Some of the participants are using seed treatment during seed sowing. The seedlings were transplanted as early as 12 days to 25 days old. In their nutrient management, the application of fertilizers in several splits was practiced, as a result, efficient used of nutrients are timed when they are needed. Foliar fertilizer was applied as supplementary nutrients mostly in flowering stage of the crop. Application of 0-0-60 during panicle initiation to heading was common to participants and this enable to increase the response of phosphorus for grain development. Based in the result of the competition the challenge of attaining 10+ yield per hectare with F5.00 cost/kilogram produced is possible. It was proven by one of participant in the Palayabangan : 10-5 challenge which had 10.54 t/ha at 14% moisture content and production cost of P4.94/kg. The challenge then raising farming standards for a more competitive rice farming industry in Isabela is a potent initiative to help farmers increase production and profit.