ADOPTION
OF HYBRID RICE IN KALINGA
Dr. Marymina P. Odiem
Dr. Jovita E. Saguibo
Engr. Joe Casibang
ABSTRACT
This study entitled
“The
Adoption of Hybrid Rice in Kalinga” was conducted in the municipalities of
Tabuk, Rizal, Pinukpuk, Tanudan, Lubuagan and Pasil from June to December 2005.
OBJECTIVES
1.) to determine the profile of Hybrid Rice Farmers;
2.) to validate the adoption level of Hybrid rice
technology; and
3.) to find out the factors and problems associated with
the adoption of the technology.
The study was conducted with the following procedures:
1.) Preparation of questionnaire;
2.) Coordination;
3. ) Data Collection , Analysis and Interpretation;
4.) Completion of the write-up and Reporting.
FINDINGS
1.
Almost 50% of the hybrid
rice growers learned the technology through seminars/trainings/forum;
2.
The farmers adopted
the technology because of the good quality of hybrid rice and it is highly
recommended by the technicians of the Department of Agriculture;
3.
Fifty percent of the respondents
considered hybrid rice production as perfectly compatible in their locality
while more than 50% considered the technology as complex in general;
4.
Hybrid rice is best
for home consumption for its good quality due to its good aroma;
5.
Three-fourths of the
farmers considered hybrid rice technology as very profitable; hence, it is
generally adopted in the locality; and
6.
The problems/factors
associated with hybrid rice production noted in the study are:
a.)
very laborious
b.)
seed impurity/poor
quality of seeds
c.)
no drying facilities
d.)
lower price of hybrid
rice
e.)
less milling recovery
f.)
high cost of seeds
g.)
limited government
subsidy to hybrid rice growers.
I.
RATIONALE
Rice, as a staple food, is the predominant crop in Kalinga
especially in the municipality
of Tabuk. It occupies 43% or 138,509 has. of the total
agricultural area of 322,939 hectares in the region. Of the 138,509 rice area, Kalinga has the
biggest hectarage covering 29%, followed by Apayao, 20% , Ifugao, 18%, Abra,
17%, Mt. Province and 10% Benguet. (DA,
1999)
Kalinga has a total area of 311,970 hectares. 69,897
hectares are devoted to agriculture and 23,177 hectares are planted with rice.
14,314 hectares rice lands are found in Tabuk, and so it covers 62% - hence its
selection as the site of the study (PPDO, 1998). A total of 1,986 hectares were utilized for F1,
hybrid rice where 1,546 hectares are found in the municipality of Tabuk
since 2000, and 86.6 hectares for seed production. (DA-Tabuk, 2003).
With hybrid rice, yield can increase by at least 15% under
the same area and input levels as that of inbred or ordinary rice. In fact, a one-ton increase in rice
production per hectare even in only 50% of the country’s 2.7 M harvested
irrigated rice area, would already result in an additional 1.35 metric tons of
palay, equivalent to .088 metric tons milled rice at 65% milling recovery. This increase in rice production can help
eliminate most importation that the country resorts to annually.
At best, the Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program (HRCP)
crafted by the Arroyo administration, manifest the government’s optimism and
political will to solve the country’s decades-old rice problem. And at best, too, it exemplifies the
confidence of the rice R&D sector that the Filipino farmer, notwithstanding
the odds stuck against him, can rise to the Herculean challenge of fulfilling
his nontransferable role as producer of food for the country’s burgeoning
population.
Concededly, there have been apprehensions as to the farmer’s
capability to adopt the hybrid rice technology.
Cognizant of this, briefings, trainings, and information campaign have
been launched by the national government through its agriculture agencies to
help the farming sector understand, appreciate, and adopt the new
technology. (Fernandez, 2002).