Tacloban City, The Philippines
November 9, 2009
Source: Philippine Information Agency
Farmers in the 15 flood prone pilot areas in Eastern Visayas will soon reap the first harvest in their first attempt to plant submergence tolerant rice genotypes, Department of Agriculture Region 8 Executive Director Leo Caneda informed.
Director Caneda said that the Department of Agriculture has chosen 15 flood-prone rice farms in Region 8 for propagation and cultivation of 16 submergence tolerant rice genotypes.
The 16 submergence tolerant rice genotypes can withstand a two-week flood unlike the usual varieties that are damaged after only three days of being submerged in floodwaters, RED Caneda disclosed.
Of the 15 pilot areas, about 12 are farmer-managed. These include 6 farm-lands in Palo; 3 in Sta. Fe, 1 in Pastrana; 1 in Tacloban City; and 1 in Babatngon, all in the province of Leyte.
Three pilot areas are researcher-managed, RED Caneda added. These are in Sacme, Tanauan, Leyte; 1 in Dolores, Eastern Samar and 1 in Northern Samar.
Last week, a Field Day was conducted at Barangay Sacme, Tanauan, Leyte which was attended by representative from DA Region 8. The highlight of the Field Day is the report of the farmer that stated which of the varieties well thriving so far and what methods he used in propagating the varieties.
God-willing, the farmers in the pilot areas will have their first harvest of submergence tolerant rice before the end of November or early December.
Based on the experiences of the pilot areas, the Department of Agriculture will be able to determine which of the 16 genotypes is best for the Eastern Visayas Region, Director Caneda said.
RED Caneda disclosed that 11 % of the Regions total farm lands or about 16,720 hectares of rice land in Eastern Visayas are vulnerable to flooding.
These vulnerable rice lands in the Region are being targeted for cultivation of 16 submergence tolerant rice genotypes, the good Director added.
"Most of the farmers in these areas depend on rice farming for their livelihood and majority of them do not have access to up-to-date information,' he said.
Director Caneda stressed that by planting the new genotypes of rice will reduce production cost and income losses of farmers due to frequent to frequent devastating typhoons and flooding.
Director Cañeda disclosed that in June to November 2008, a study was conducted by DA at Brgy. Cangumbang, Palo, Leyte and Brgy. Buntay, Oras, Eastern Samar to find out which among of the 16 varieties are tallest, matures early and highest yield.
Participatory varietal selection-researcher managed was conducted in farmer's fields. Called as "mother trial,' the activity evaluates in detail the adaptability of the different rice genotypes.
Three to four genotypes were found to be promising in the region are now being tested by the farmer themselves in their respective fields, Director Caneda said.
Eastern Visayas, along with Bicol and Caraga regions, has been identified by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as area most prone to flashfloods.
The first submergence-tolerant rice variety in the Philippines was released during the 27th Council Secretariat Meeting on July 7 this year.
The "Submarino 1' variety is a non-genetically engineered rice plant that can survive, grow and develop even after 10 days under water, The variety was infused with submergence tolerance gene (Sub1), which was discovered by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the University of California-Davis from an Indian rice variety FR13A.
"We are talking here of a potential near zero harvest to a harvest of three to four tons per hectare when farmers use this variety. This is a big bonanza for farmers and for additional rice supply in the market," RED Caneda said.
Farmers using this variety would spend less for fertilizer because farmlands would have more nutrients because of the "banlik (silt)' brought by floods, he said.
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