THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas, through its Rice Resiliency Project (RRP), has completed the distribution of hybrid rice seeds to all local government units (LGUs) in the region.

The region has a total of 68,234 hectares targeted for hybrid rice production.

Of which, Iloilo has the highest allocation, at 32,579 bags, followed by Negros Occidental with 21,364 bags; Antique - 9,675 bags; Aklan - 2,705 bags; Capiz - 1,470 bags; and Guimaras - 441 bags.

DA-Western Visayas Officer-in-Charge Regional Technical Director Rene Famoso, in a statement, said they are encouraging all LGUs to fast-track the distribution of these hybrid seeds to farmers in time for the wet cropping season.

Famoso said that at present, they only have 45 percent distribution based on the report from the City and Municipal Agriculture Offices.

"Farmers who have planted early could have a quick turn around and plant hybrid rice seeds before September 15 this year which is still considered under the wet cropping season," he added.

Under the RRP, the DA has provided various hybrid varieties such as NSIC Rc314H (Bigante Plus), NSIC Rc410H (Habilis Plus), NSIC Rc494H (AZ 7888), NSIC Rc132H (SL 8H), NSIC Rc488H (SL 19H), NSIC Rc540H (SL 20H), NSIC Rc456H (LP 937) and NSIC Rc412H (LP 205).

Famoso has expressed optimism that the region could secure the rice requirement for the succeeding months of the year with the additional three bags of Urea fertilizer given to rice farmers who will plant these hybrid rice varieties. (With reports from DA-Western Visayas)