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.