Provincial Hybrid Demo Farm now on its way
 By Cristy O. Saplot

In consonance with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s vigorouscampaign for the adoption of farmers on the use of hybrid rice to attain maximum production, the Misamis Occidental Provincial Government, through the Provincial Agriculture Office, is presently fast tracking the implementation of the Misamis Occidental Hybrid Rice Demonstration Farm located at Barangay Libertad Bajo in Sinacaban Town. 

As the rice portion of the former Pagkain ng Bayan, the Demo Farm can be seen along the entrance of the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP).
 
The introduction of hybrid rice in the Philippines is in line with President Arroyo’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Program.

The Demo farm has an area of five (5) hectares cultivated by 11 rice farmers who are residents of the area. The Gloria Rice “PSB Rc 72 H” was seeded in the area in May last year and was transplanted the following month, and the expected date of harvest will be at the end of September this year. 

In order to lessen financial burden on the farming inputs, Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos allocated a P37,143 funding assistance to the farmers cultivating the area. Because of this assistance, farmers have to put up a capital of only P 50,300.00 for the five hectares of farm land.
 
With the technical support of the rice technicians from the Provincial Agriculture Office headed by Provincial Agriculture Officer Atty. Procopio Lao IV, the Provincial Government hopes that the Demo Farm will show, if not remarkable, a favorable performance, The Farm’s success will, once again, prove that hybrid rice provides a better harvest result than any other variety which would subsequently encourage many of our farmers who remained adamant to adopt modem farming methods.