ILOILO – To help farmers cope with the challenges of growing rice amid the spiking prices of inputs, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) rolled out the “Abonong Swak” campaign and started distributing inbred seeds for the wet planting season in Panay Island.
The Abonong Swak campaign supports the Balanced Fertilization Strategy and highlights the importance of combining organic and inorganic fertilizer to reduce production costs while ensuring yield.
“Nilalayon nito na maipalaganap ang paggamit ng inorganiko at organikong pataba. Hindi lang dapat tayo nakadepende sa inorganikong abono na inaangkat sa ibang bansa),” said Dr. Rodolfo Estigoy, the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) deputy spokesperson.
He introduced the fertilizer-saving technology to farmers in Numancia, Aklan, and Mambusao, Capiz.
Meanwhile, Dr. Diadem Gonzales-Esmero, chief of the PhilRice Development Communication Division, explained the different recommended combinations of inorganic and organic fertilizers based on targeted production volume.
* Combo 1 – 3,000 to 4,000 kilograms per hectare target production
* Combo 2 – 5,000 to 6,000 kilograms per hectare target production
* Combo 3 – 7,000 to 8,000 kilograms per hectare target production
“Nilunsad natin ang kampanya para matulungan ang mga magsasaka na mapababa ang kanilang gastos sa pagpapataba at hindi naman mapapabayaan ang kanilang ani. Abonong swak, swak sa budget, swak sa palay,” she said.
Esmero urged rice farmers to utilize decision tools downloadable on mobile phones. With the Leaf Color Chart, Minus One Element Technique, Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service, and the use of Soil Test Kits, rice farmers can determine the right element, amount, and the timing of fertilizer application.
Following the Abonong Swak technology, farmers could save P2,000 to P4,000 a hectare.
Lucy Hindrana of Numancia, Aklan expressed support to the technology amid the unprecedented increase in the cost of synthetic fertilizer from P1,000 to P3,000 per bag.
“Sana sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiya sa Abonong Swak, mas maging kaunti ang gastos naming pero ang ani masagana,” said Hindrana who also mentioned that they have been processing and applying organic fertilizer out of farm wastes, rice hay, and animal manure to their rice areas two months before land preparation.
On the other hand, PhilRice Negros rolled out the distribution of certified inbred seeds to 50 farmers each from the municipalities of San Remigio in Antique, Numancia, Aklan, and Mambusao, Capiz.
PhilRice apportioned 194,280 bags of certified inbred seeds under the DA Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for Panay farmers this wet planting season.
The allotted seeds will be planted in at least 97,000 hectares of target farms in Aklan, Antique, and Capiz, according to PhilRice Negros Regional RCEF coordinator Fennie Lyn Pantin.
Farmers listed in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture will have access to high-yielding inbred seeds such as NSIC Rc 222, NSIC Rc 216, NSIC Rc 480, and PSB Rc10 projected to level up harvests and reduce the cost of producing rice.
Based on the guidelines, PhilRice will provide qualified farmers with one bag of inbred seeds at 20 kilograms per bag for every half a hectare farm. (DA-6/PN)
