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Monday, March 14, 2005
Agri dep't: Make hybrid corn third crop
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) 6 encouraged farmers in Western Visayas to adopt hybrid corn instead of rice for their third crop, as this requires zero tillage, if planted right away after rice is harvested, when soil is still moist.
Agriculture Crops Division Chief Sofronio Parohinog said that hybrid corn does not need much water until it is tall enough, not when just emerging from soil.
The Philippine Information Agency 6 reported that adoption of hybrid corn among farmers in Western Visayas is high and it has been successful in many barangays in the Iloilo towns of Cabatuan, Zarraga and Tigbauan.
Parohinog said that farmers can count on big margin of profit, even bigger than rice, as the former commands a higher yield of about eight tons which is about 8,000 kilos.A kilo of corn costs about P8 to 10 and in-demand in the market.
Meanwhile, the adoption of hybrid rice is still considerably low as the first parent material tested yielded some impurities or imperfections, in the combination of A x B and A x R that produces F1 hybrid rice.
Parohinog said DA experts and other institutions are studying the results, particularly on the adaptability of the variety.
There are technology demonstration farms being managed by the Agriculture Department in several areas in Region 6.
Parohinog cited the provinces of Negros and Aklan as having higher rates of adoption of hybrid rice, while Antique and Iloilo, having lower rates, because of the experience in defective results of planting, which the agency is now addressing.
(March 14, 2005 issue)
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