PGB’s Big Rice Farm project yields success
CITY OF MALOLOS – The Provincial Government of Bulacan’s (PGB’s) previous achievement in the agriculture sector stemmed out to another success as farmers can now harvest the fruits of the “Big Rice Farm” project.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, together with SL Agritech Corporation CEO Henry Lim Bon Liong and Plaridel Mayor Jocell Vistan-Casaje, led today the ceremonial harvesting of the 50 hectares in Culianin, Plaridel which is part of the 250-hectare Big Rice Farm project in the province.
The said project, funded by the cash prize received by the province as one of the outstanding provinces in the 2016 Rice Achievers Awards, sponsored farmers from the municipalities of Balagtas, Bustos, Plaridel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael with hybrid rice seeds to let them see for themselves the benefits of planting hybrid rice which increases yield and income.
Alvarado advised farmers to adapt with modern farming technologies borne out of research which will surely be advantageous to them.
“Sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan, unti-unti nating mabibigyan ng kaalaman at kalayaan ang ating mga magsasaka na mapaunlad ang kanilang pag-aani, at tayo naman po ay tiyak na aani rin sa ating pagtutulungan na iyan dahil tayo po ang makikinabang sa itinatanim ng ating mga magsasaka,” Alvarado said.
Moreover, SL Agritech’s Senior Technical and Promotion Consultant Dr. Frisco Malabanan promoted the use of hybrid rice to the farmers and said that it will double their yield.
“Ang atin pong mga hybrid rice, makasisigurado ang ating mga magsasaka na matatag sa drought, matatag sa baha at matatag sa peste at sakit ng palay kaya sigurado ang kanilang ani,” Dr. Malabanan said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF. Carrillo said that farmers are expecting a potential yield of 10 tons per hectare and that the harvest of the Big Rice Farm project will last until the first week of May.
The package of the Big Rice Farm project consists of hybrid rice seed, three bags of commercial fertilizer, crop insurance premium and shallow tube well or open surface pumps.