Iloilo launches P30

ILOILO CITY -- As part of the target sites of the Department of Agriculture (DA-6) in Western Visayas region, the provincial government of Iloilo has launched a P30-million hybrid rice seed program to cater to more than 6,000 hectares of rice farms.

"We are pushing for the hybridization program to improve our current average yield of 4.5 metric tons per hectare of palay even before the completion of the biggest dam project outside Luzon, the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II," said Iloilo Governor Arthur ‘Toto’ Defensor Jr.

The program is part of Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) that was launched in San Miguel town, where 309 bags of seeds were distributed to farmer beneficiaries.

In a report released by the DA-6, only seven towns in Iloilo province were able to avail 45,000 bags of hybrid seeds in fiscal year 2022. These included Ajuy, Dumangas, Pavia, Mina, New Lucena, Barotac Nuevo, and Banate. These towns had an average yield of five metric tons per hectare.

The DA-6 backs the Iloilo Agricultural Office to boost the area and yield for hybrid planting this year.