(Press Release)
SeedWorks Philippines is putting the spotlight on another viable alternative farming technique that will be suitable for its versatile, yet high-yielding TH-82 Tatag Hybrid rice variety.
The agricultural seed company is launching dry-direct seeding technology demonstration in a rice farm in Barangay Cabatling in Malasiqui, Pangasinan and in Barangay Nelintap, in San Carlos City, Pangasinan on July 13, 2022. The rice farming demonstration will prove the reliability of TH-82 variety in bringing higher yields to farmers while significantly lowering the usual rice production costs—in irrigation and labor.
Dry-direct seeding is an emerging rice-planting technique that is designed to address scarcity in water especially in the uplands and other areas where water is scarce or irrigation could not be sufficiently maintained. It is also ideal when farming during drought.
Through this alternative rice-farming technique, rice seeds are directly sown into the soil. Through the process, labor cost is trimmed as the need to puddle-transplant or wet-sow rice plants is skipped. This is why this agricultural technique is starting to draw attention in some rice-producing countries in the region.
More efficient rice farming
“Through this field demo, we want every farmer to realize that growing hybrid rice may not require spending more,” says SeedWorks Philippines President Carlos Saplala. “Through using SeedWorks’ TH-82 hybrid rice variety, farmers can still get high yield while spending less in production cost using dry-direct seeding technology.” (Dry direct seeding is a technique wherein seeding of non-pre-germinated dry rice seeds is conducted in soil prepared in dry conditions.)
Saplala also notes that not every hybrid rice variety can withstand the dry-direct seeding culture. “TH-82 has been proven to survive and perform well compared to other rice varieties in the market, based on results in many field trials.”
SeedWorks’ TH-82 hybrid rice variety is best noted for its seed vigor, robust root system, and ability to bring about high-yield despite unlikely climate conditions. It has already been proven to be the right rice variety of choice for direct-seeding and dry-seeding techniques in dry and even wet rice field conditions.
In a previous dry-seeding farming test conducted in Central Mindanao TH-82 yielded over 6 metric tons per hectare. That is a stand out in comparison with the average maximum yield of just 2.5 metric tons per hectare using indigenous rice varieties, which are dependent on rain.
SeedWorks International CEO Venkatram Vasantavada, SeedWorks PH President Carlos Saplala, farmer cooperator Jorge Mendoza, brand ambassador Chef Boy Logro and SeedWorks PH VP Remus Morandante (at the back) during the farming demo launch in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
Supporting productivity efforts
SeedWorks PH’s dry-direct seeding technology demonstration comes as the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who also assumes the role as Department of Agriculture chief, calls for higher rice production this planting season to help make the country produce more rice for national consumption as a forecast global food crisis looms.
“SeedWorks has always been supportive of the government’s efforts aimed at ultimately helping our local farmers achieve greater harvests despite the adverse soil and weather conditions,” said SeedWorks PH Vice President Remus Morandante. “Our hybrid rice varieties have been proven to enable farmers to enjoy higher yields, producing the best quality of rice that consumers appreciate.”
Saplala and Morandante are joining SeedWorks International CEO Venkatram Vasantavada in the anticipated dry-direct seeding rice technology demonstration in Pangasinan. The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 Executive Director Crispulo Bautista is also attending the activity.
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