To sustain the increase in palay production and yield, the Department of Agriculture’ Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has positioned 430,196 bags of certified inbred seeds under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program for distribution to rice farmers in Western Visayas this wet planting season, the DA announced Friday, January 27.
The seed allocation, which aims to benefit 223,156 master-listed rice farmers across the region, will be delivered to 133 local government units (LGUs) beginning in March, Engr. Rojen F. Austria, PhilRice-Negros RCEF coordinator, said.
Iloilo will get 166,351 bags of certified inbred seeds, Negros Occidental – 101,216, Capiz – 63,391 – 55,735, Aklan – 31,975, and Guimaras- 11,528, the DA press release said.
PhilRice increased the target allocation this year by over 30 percent compared to the seed interventions delivered in the 2022 wet season, it said.
National and regional seed varieties recommended for propagation in the low to medium-yield areas in the region include NSIC Rc222, NSIC Rc216, NSIC Rc402, PSB Rc10, and NSIC Rc506, it added.*