TABUK CITY, KALINGA – City Agriculturist Gilbert Cawis rued the decision of the leadership of the Department of Agriculture of giving 50 percent subsidy for hybrid rice seeds and 100 percent subsidy for inbred seeds this current cropping saying that with the decision, the government has missed a golden opportunity to promote hybrid rice.
This, according to him, is rather ironic because hybrid rice is being touted as the salvation of the country from its chronic rice shortage.
“Had they consulted us in the grassroots level, we would have told them that the percentage of the subsidy should be equal. What happened was that because the inbred seeds were given free, the farmers opted to plant inbred varieties instead of the better yielding hybrid varieties. They should listen to us because we directly deal with the clientele doing the actual planting,” Cawis said.
Cawis said that although local farmers usually get 10-15 percent higher yield by planting hybrid rice, they chose the inbred varieties not only because they were free but because they also get good harvest with certified inbred rice seeds.
“What could have tipped the balance in favor of hybrid seeds is if the percentage of subsidy were equal,” Cawis said.
In the same token, Cawis is not in favor of the DA’s plan of giving P1,500.00 and P600.00 subsidy for hybrid and inbred seeds, respectively, this next cropping. He said that amounts to 50 percent subsidy for inbred seeds. On the other hand, while it may also be 50 percent for hybrid seeds produced by the government, it could only be 33 percent in the event farmers choose hybrid seeds produced by private companies.
Cawis also expressed his vehement disapproval of the practice of importing rice saying that instead of importing, the government should increase palay support price because the higher price will have the effect of increasing domestic production.
He cited the time in 2007 when palay prices went beyond P20.00 per kilo in the market and P17.00 in the NFA saying that many farmers in the city immediately cultivated their ricefields after harvesting and even planted rice in areas previously used for other crops.
He said the farmers were disappointed because the following harvest, the price went down due to factors foremost of which is importation of rice.
“It’s not bad to import but the volume should be limited to what we really need and should not be stocked. What is important is when farmers sell their palay, they should gain and not lose,” Cawis said. **By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW
This, according to him, is rather ironic because hybrid rice is being touted as the salvation of the country from its chronic rice shortage.
“Had they consulted us in the grassroots level, we would have told them that the percentage of the subsidy should be equal. What happened was that because the inbred seeds were given free, the farmers opted to plant inbred varieties instead of the better yielding hybrid varieties. They should listen to us because we directly deal with the clientele doing the actual planting,” Cawis said.
Cawis said that although local farmers usually get 10-15 percent higher yield by planting hybrid rice, they chose the inbred varieties not only because they were free but because they also get good harvest with certified inbred rice seeds.
“What could have tipped the balance in favor of hybrid seeds is if the percentage of subsidy were equal,” Cawis said.
In the same token, Cawis is not in favor of the DA’s plan of giving P1,500.00 and P600.00 subsidy for hybrid and inbred seeds, respectively, this next cropping. He said that amounts to 50 percent subsidy for inbred seeds. On the other hand, while it may also be 50 percent for hybrid seeds produced by the government, it could only be 33 percent in the event farmers choose hybrid seeds produced by private companies.
Cawis also expressed his vehement disapproval of the practice of importing rice saying that instead of importing, the government should increase palay support price because the higher price will have the effect of increasing domestic production.
He cited the time in 2007 when palay prices went beyond P20.00 per kilo in the market and P17.00 in the NFA saying that many farmers in the city immediately cultivated their ricefields after harvesting and even planted rice in areas previously used for other crops.
He said the farmers were disappointed because the following harvest, the price went down due to factors foremost of which is importation of rice.
“It’s not bad to import but the volume should be limited to what we really need and should not be stocked. What is important is when farmers sell their palay, they should gain and not lose,” Cawis said. **By Estanislao Albano Jr., ZZW
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