VOL. 4 NO. 3 PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY SL AGRITECH CORP. SEPT-OCT 2011

Payumo’s hybrid rice record harvest

remains unsurpassedPage 5

Singapore foundation to fund IRRI

research programPage 3

Biro ng isang kaibigan

Page 2

Gov't urged to pay closer attention to hy-brid rice production

Page 6

golden grain

Nigeria joins 7 Asian countries to adopt hybrid rice technology

By SANNY GALVEZ

LIM

Nigeria, considered the most populated country in Africa with over 140 million people and one of the world’s biggest rice-consuming countries, has joined seven Asian countries to adopt the hybrid rice technology to increase production and meet its growing demand for the cereal.

Indonesia, Vietnam, Myan-mar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Ban-gladesh and Burma have since been adopting the hybrid rice technology of SL Agritech Corp.

Henry Lim, chairman and CEO of SL Agritech, said Mada-

gascar is another country which has shown interest to use his firm’s high-yielding SL-8H hy-brid seeds variety.

Lim said however, that SL Agritech will limit its hybrid seeds exportation “to ensure that we will have ready supply for our own farmers.”

“It is indeed a pity kung uunahin pa nating makinabang ang magsasaka sa ibang bansa kaysa sa ating magsasaka sa pag-tatanim ng hybrid rice, kaya kami gumagawa ng ganitong hakbang. Ang aming tanging layunin ay matulungan ang ating mga mag-sasaka na lumago ang kanilang aanihing palay at lumaki rin ang kanilang kikitain sa pagsasaka,”

(Turn to page 9)

(Turn to page 3)

SL Agritech Corp. is mak-ing its second shipment this month of 300 metric tons (MT) of hybrid rice seeds to Vietnam, one of the seven Asian countries adopting the firm’s hybrid rice technology.

The firm’s succeeding shipments will be 600 MT in 2012; 1,000 MT in 2013; 1,500 MT in 2014; and 2,500 MT in 2015. By the end of 2015, Vietnam’s target area that will be planted to hybrid rice seeds would be 140,000 hectares.

SL Agritech to make 2nd shipment of hybrid seeds to Vietnam

(Turn to page 9)

SL Agritech Corp. is conducting province-wide technical brief-ings on hybrid rice as shown in photo (above) taken in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. The project, which is supported by Gov. Aurelio Umali, was held in all districts of Nueva Ecija, in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Nueva Ecija.

TECHNICALBRIEFINGS ON HYBRID RICE

New hybrid rice program gains wide acceptance from farmers SL Agritech’s new

hybrid rice pro-g r a m c a l l e d “Kayamanan sa Palayan,” is gaining wide acceptance from farmers in several municipalities and provinces, according to Henry Lim, the firm’s chairman and chief execu-tive officer (CEO).

Kayamanan sa Palayan’s priority target areas are 100-hect-are compact and irrigated rice farms which are low-yielding

and areas where the hybrid rice technology is

not yet adapted. The target ben-eficiaries are the farmers, irriga-

tors’ associations, cooperatives and rice

farm clusters. Lim explained that the

scheme is a “Plant Now Pay Later Plan,” which means SL Agritech will supply the farmers the palay seeds and provide the technologi-cal know-how. The farmer will

GINTONG BUTIL SEPT-OCT 20112

STAFF

SANNY GALVEZEditor

JOSEPHINE E. DUNGCA Managing Editor

Contributing Writers:Rudy A. Fernandez

Jennifer NgViktor Peñas Carlo CaluagPhotographers

Carmina Cruz Jivin Relato

Graphic Artists

Gintong Butil is published bi-monthly by SL Agritech Corp., a division of Sterling Group of Companies, with editorial andbusiness offices at 2302 Sterling Place, Pasong Tamo Ext.,

Makati City. Telefax No. 810-1604

Conrad CariñoAnselmo Roque

Biro ng isang kaibiganPang-walo na ang Nigeria na nag-aangkat ng hybrid rice

seeds mula sa SL Agritech Corp. Gumaya na rin ito sa mga ban-sang mula sa Asya -- Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh at Burma na nag-aangkat din ng nasabing uri ng palay na mas kilala sa SL-8H hybrid seeds. Na-niniwala ako na may malaking dahilan sila kung bakit nga ba sila pare-parehong nakumbinsi na magtanim ng uri ng palay na ito. Sa nakikita kong dahilan – kumbinsido talaga sila na mas malaki ang kanilang aanihing palay kung ito ngang hybrid rice na punlang ito ang kanilang itatanim sa kani-kanilang bukirin.

Biro nga ng kaibigan kong si Eli Cinco, columnist ng Manila Bulletin at dati kong kasamahan sa nasabing pahayagan – “Pilipinas o ang bayan na nga lang natin ang hindi pa ‘nag-iimport’ ng hybrid rice seeds sa SL Agritech.”

Pati na ang Vietnam, kung saan dito tayo laging nag-aangkat ng bigas na milyon-milyong dolyar ang ating ginagasta, bumibili na rin ngayon sa SL Agritech ng hybrid rice seeds para ito na ang itanim nila sa kanilang mga bukirin. Ito ay sa dahilang gusto nilang lalu pang lumaki ang kanilang produksyon sa bigas sa pagtatanim nga ng hybrid rice seeds.

Ang paliwanag sa akin ni G. Henry Lim, ang chairman at chief executive officer (CEO) ng SL Agritech, “hindi mo sila (ang walong bansang ito) basta makukumbinsi sa salita lamang na malaki ang kanilang aanihing palay kung ang aming teknolohiya ang kanilang gagamitin.. Ang tutuo, pumupunta pa dito sa aming tanggapan sa Makati ang kani-kanilang mga representante at experto at dito pa lamang, sinusuri na nilang mabuti sa aming demonstration farm kung gaano ang kaibahan ng aming hybrid seeds kumpara sa uri ng palay na kanilang tinatanim sa kasalukuyan..

Katakataka ba na sa darating na araw, baka tayo na ang mag-

iimport o aangkat ng bigas sa Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Burma, Nigeria, Cambodia and Africa?

Katakataka nga ba? Posibleng mangyari ito hangga’t…alam n’yo na ang ibig kong sabihin. May kumikita nga ba sa pag-iimport natin ng bigas sa ibang bansa? Ah, ewan!

Nabanggit sa akin ni G. Lim ang China, na ayon sa kanya, ay hybrid rice ang karamihan nitong tinatanim kung kaya’t supisy-ente sila sa bigas gayong ang pinakakaing tao ay umaabot sa 1.3 bilyon. At nakakapag-export pa nga sa ibang bansa!

“Tinatag namin ang SL Agritech para tulungan ang ating mga magsasaka na lumaki ang kanilang inaaning palay at kanilang kini-kita. Ito ang huling bilin ng aming ina nang siya ay nabubuhay pa. She appeared in my dream encouraging me to pursue the hybrid rice technology project,” sabi ni G. Lim.

Yun na nga raw ang dahilan ng pagkakatatag noong 1998 ng SL Agritech Corp., isang dibisyon ng Sterling Paper Group of Companies, a family-owned corporation engaged in paper manufacturing, school and office supplies, furniture, retailing, call center and real estate development.

Kung iisipin, sa lawak at laki ng negosyo ng kanyang pamilya, pwede ng hindi siya nagpupunta pa sa malalayong probinsya – Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, sa Mindoro, Davao. Camarines, Mindanao at sa iba pang malalayong lugar sa bansa -- at lumulusong sa mga putikang bukid para bisitahin ang mga pananim na hybrid palay ng mga magsasaka at tinitiis ang init ng araw gayong pwede na lang na doon siya mamalagi sa kaniyang maganda at air-conditioned office sa Makati City na hindi pa mapuputikan ang kanyang mga paa o madadarang sa araw at mapapawisan ang kanyang katawan.

Sa pasimula ng SL Agritech, nagpunta si G. Lim sa China kung saan, nakipagkita siya kay Prof. Yuan Longping, ang tinaguriang “Father of Hybrid Rice” sa China.

Pinakitaan siya ng magandang loob ni Prof. Longping dahilan na rin sa sinabi niya ritong ang tanging layunin niya ay para matulun-gan ang mga Pilipinong magsasaka na mabigyan sila ng magandang buhay. Hindi nag-atubili si Prof. Longping at binigay sa kanya ang “sekreto” o teknolohiya ng hybrid rice at sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas, kasama ang dalawang Chinese rice scientists na “pinahiram” sa kanya ni Prof. Longping upang tulungan siyang maisakatuparan ang kanyang itatayong bagong tanggapan, ito ngang SL Agritech na ngayon ay maituturing na pinakamalaking producer ng hybrid rice seeds sa buong bansa.

At dito na nag-umpisang magparit-parito si G. Lim sa mga probinsya upang kumbinsihin ang mga magsasaka sa makaba-gong teknolohiya sa pagtatanim ng palay. Dito na rin siya nag-umpisang lumakad sa mga putikang bukid at maki halubilo sa mga magsasaka.

Sabi nga ng isang opisyal sa kanyang tanggapan, “Panata na ni Mr. Lim ang pagsunod sa bilin ng kanilang yumaong Ina kaya niya tinitiis niya ang lahat ng mga ‘yan. Natanim na rin sa kanyang puso ang pagmamahal sa mga magsasaka, na ayon sa kanya, ay hindi pa lubos na nakakatanggap ng tulong mula sa pamahalaan.”

Sa isang pagkakataon, muli kaming nagkausap ni G. Lim at ito ay tungkol sa pagbebenta ng SL Agritech ng hybrid rice seeds sa Bangladesh, Malaysia, Burma, Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Cambodia at Nigeria.

(Sundan sa pahina 8)

SANNY GALVEZ

Hindi basta-basta makukumbinsi

Huling bilin ng Ina ni G. Lim

Pagmamahal sa mga magsasaka

GINTONG BUTILSEPT-OCT 2011 3

New hybrid rice program gains wide acceptance from farmers pay for the cost of the palay seeds only during harvest time.

He said the program is being undertaken in partnership with the local government units (LGUs), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Department of Agri-culture (DA) and other stakehold-ers in the rice industry.

Meanwhile, Lim said he has recently written a letter to Agri-culture Secretary Proceso Alcala informing him that SL Agritech, while advocating the use of hybrid rice technology, is also endorsing the Department of Agriculture’s

programs of food sufficiency in line with the Public-Private Sec-tor Partnership (PPSP) program of President Aquino.

He said he has also furnished Alcala a copy of the initial pro-duction report from the provinces and municipalities participating in the “Kayamanan sa Palayan program which, he said, “has a very good impact in increas-ing rice productivity using our high-yielding SL-8 hybrid seed variety.”

Lim said the national aver-age yield in the irrigated area is around 4.5 metric tons (MT)

per hectare or 90 cavans per hectare using the certified inbred rice seeds variety, compared to the average yield of 7.7 MT per hectare or 152 cavans per hectare (using the SL-8H hybrid rice seeds) based from the initial reports from five provinces – Kalinga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac,

'Kayamanan sa Palayan'

program has a very good impact in increasing rice

productivity using the high-yielding

SL-8H hybrid seed variety.

Oriental Mindoro and Negros Occidental.

Philippine-based Interna-tional Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will undertake a joint rice research program with the National University of Singa-pore (NUS) and Temasek Life Science Laboratory (TLL) that will be funded by a grant from Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF).

NRF will invest up to $8.2 million over five years in a new rice research program to ensure enough rice to meet the future demands of Singapore and the region.

IRRI’s deputy director gen-eral for research Dr. Achim Do-bermann said they are “delight-ed to see Singapore stepping up as a regional leader with this investment in international rice

Singapore foundation to fund IRRI rice research program

$8.2 MILLION

By MARIANNE V. GOresearch.”

“We need to be thinking beyond national borders to help tackle food supply issues. And Singapore is showing real lead-ership within Asia by doing just that,” he said.

Singapore’s move is expected to have an important impact on regional food security and en-courage other Asian nations to invest in similar programs.

The joint rice research will address some of the most pressing concerns faced by rice farmers in Asia, especially how rice farm-ing can become better adapted to climate change.

The program will also seek to develop new rice varieties with built-in protection against diseases, and reduce the need for limited inputs such as water, thus increasing sustainable rice production and ensuring long-term food security.

Rice cultivation occupies about 140 million hectares in Asia, with annual production at around 600 millions.

It is staple food foe more than half the world’s population, with developing Asian countries

equating food security with access to rice supplies.

Rice production, accord-ing to IRRI, faces serious constraints due to global en-vironmental changes and ever-increasing demand.

Singapore relies entirely on imported rice and is thus subjected to the fragility of rice supplies and price escala-tions in international markets.

According to IRRI, the world needs to produce eight to 10 million tons more rice every year to ensure a reliable supply of rice and keep rice prices affordable.

(From page 1)

GINTONG BUTILSEPT-OCT 2011 5

PAYUMO’S HYBRID RICE RECORD HARVEST REMAINS UNSURPASSED

Farmer Severino Payumo’s hybrid rice record harvest of 345.6 cavans per hectare in 2009, remains unsurpassed to this day. It will take perhaps a year or more for someone who can break or duplicate his impressive record in hybrid rice production which demands experience and know-how in hybrid seed technology.

Payumo’s recorded harvest of 345.6 cavans per hectare in 2009 easily won for him the grand prize in the Search for Hybrid Rice Highest Yielder initiated the same year by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Nueva Ecija and SL Agritech Corp. in cooperation with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Food Author-ity (NFA), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), National Ir-rigation Administration (NIA) and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Units (DA-RFU).

The 77-year-old Payumo, a former barangay captain of Biliran in Cabanatuan City, eclipsed the performance of his fellow hybrid rice farmers in the province – Ri-cardo Buenaventura of Tabacao,

Talavera and Severino Velasquez of Sta. Rita in Jaen, whose per hectare production was 266 and 230 cavans, respectively.

Payumo broke the 2006 re-cord of 345 cavans per hectare harvested by lady farmer Aida Badong of San Nicolas, Cama-rines Sur who also used the same SL-8H super hybrid seeds variety of SL Agritech.

“Napakalaki ng inañgat ng aking aning palay magmula nga

nang ako ay nag-umpisang mag-hybrid noong 2006. Noong dati, nakapag-aani lamang ako ng 70 hanggang 80 cavanes kada ektarya sa pagtatanim ko ng in-bred variety. Nguni’t nang ako ay nag-hybrid, umaani na ako ng so-brang laki na sa tutuo lang, hindi ako makapaniwala noong una na ganoon kalaki ang aking aanihin,” Payumo said in an interview.

Michael Lumas-i, also a hybrid rice farmer from Sitio

Tannulubong in Tabuk, Kalinga, was the grand winner of the 2010 “Gawad Saka” award given by the DA which recognized his outstanding achievement in hybrid rice production (255 cavans per hectare), poultry, piggery, fishery and high value commercial crops.

Among the country’s top hybrid rice producers are Edu-ardo Policarpio of Nueva Ecija, 315 cavans per hectare; Narciso Bermudez of Bengued, Abra, 296 cavans; Freddie Dalisay, Oriental Mindoro, 291; Dominador Maria-no, Tarlac, 256; Alfredo Domingo, Isabela, 260; Ramil Jimenez, Oc-cidental Mindoro, 258; Ronald Macalma, Ilocos Norte, 251;

Michael Viduya, Pitogo, Rizal, 250; Edward Importante of Occidental Mindoro, 236; Julio Jocson, Oriental Mindoro, 229; Leoncio Balasbas, Zamboanga del Sur, 217; Hilario Lacaste, Panga-sinan, 214; Marino Fugata, North Cotabato, 210; Rogelio Pentico-stes, Pangasinan, 210; Crispin Sunio, Cagayan, 208; Willie Du-lay, Tarlac, 207; and Feliciano Biagan of Pangasinan, 205 cavans per hectare.

Payumo at his hybrid rice farm in barangay Biliran in Cabanatuan City.

Payumo’s recorded harvest of 345.6 cavans per hectare in 2009 easily won for him the grand prize in

the 'Search for Hybrid Rice Highest Yielder.'

GINTONG BUTIL SEPT-OCT 20116

PLS RESIZE. TNX

GINTONG BUTILSEPT-OCT 2011 7

Government urged to pay closer

attention to hybrid rice production

PRES. AQUINO SEC. ALCALA

Henry Lim, chairman and chief executive officer of SL Agritech Corp., expressed high hopes that the present administra-tion “will pay a closer attention to hybrid rice production,” as he stressed that “our country’s best option to become self-sufficiency in rice is hybrid rice and its ac-companying technology.”

He said he was optimistic the Philippines would achieve rice self-sufficiency in three years if the government would aggres-sively push the production of hybrid rice.

“That, I believe would spell the end to rice importation. It is lamentable to note that since 1985 and almost every year thereafter, we have been importing the ce-real, spending billions of pesos which could otherwise be spent for the construction of posthar-vest and irrigation facilities and farm-to-market roads,” Lim said.

Lim said in China, more than 60 percent of its ricelands are planted to hybrid rice. With over 1.3 billion people to feed, China is not only self-sufficient in rice but it has also enough for export.

Lim said that at present, seven Asian countries – Malaysia, In-donesia, Myanmar, Cambodia,

Bangladesh, Burma, and Vietnam (where we presently import a lot of our rice), are presently adopt-

ing the hybrid rice technology of his firm. He said Nigeria, one of the world’s biggest rice-consum-

ing countries, is also adopting its seed technology.

Officials of the state-owned Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corp. (BADC), visit a hybrid rice demon-stration farm in Dattanagar, Bangladesh. Bangladesh,

one of the world's biggest rice consuming countries, has been importing SL-8H hybrid rice seeds from SL Agritech Corp. since 2008.

HYBRID RICE FARM IN BANGLADESH

...'our country’s best option

to become self-sufficiency in rice is hybrid rice and its accompanying

technology.'

GINTONG BUTIL SEPT-OCT 20118

Come, visit the IRRIRiceworld Center

IN LOS BAÑOS

The IRRI Riceworld, a learning center at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Banos, Laguna, is visited each year by more than 30,000 students, teachers, farmers, researchers and policy makers from all over the world.

Dedicated to rice farmers all over the world, the IRRI Riceworld is a permanent exhibit of artifacts and implements from rice-growing countries. It serves as a learning center about rice production and research and the importance of rice in global food production.

Inaugurated in 1994, the Center, according to Johnny Goloyugo, IRRI information specialist, shows the different ways rice is grown, the geographical zones where rice is planted, the challenges involved in improving productivity and the problems associated with sustain-able rice production in various eco-systems.

Exhibits at the IRRI Riceworld start with the history and origins of rice. Its centerpiece shows carbonized rice grains and hulls dat-ing back to 2,500 BC.

The carbonized rice grains were found in archeological exca-vations in Ban Na Di and Non Nok Tha in northeast of Thailand.

The next section, according to Goloyugo, is a photo exhibit about rice cultivation and the different eco-systems where rice is grown, from irrigated and deepwater to upland areas. It is followed by a display of different clothes worn by the farmers.

Other exhibits explain the importance of friendly insects in controlling rice pests, the value of conserving rice seeds to maintain genetic diversity, and why scientists are looking at the role of methane emissions from ricefields in global warming.

A major part of the IRRI Riceworld is devoted to more than 200 rice farming tools for different stages of cultivation; plows, carts, scythes, knives, a mud-carrying drag sledge, rice bundles, and others.

Rice machineries developed at IRRI, including a stove fueled by rice husk, are also on display at the Ccnter.

Admission to the IRRI Riceworld is free.

IN SULTAN KUDARAT

Biro ng isang kaibigan(Mula sa pahina 2)

(Mula sa pahina 12)

Narito ang kanyang mga kasagutan sa aking mga tanong – on seed exportation to these countries –“Lilimitan namin ito para naman mayroon tayong laging handang supply sa ating mga magsasaka.”

“Mali naman yata kung uunahin pa nating makinabang ang mga magsasaka sa ibang bansa kesa sa ating magsasaka sa pagtatanim ng hybrid rice, kaya kami gumagawa ng gani-tong hakbang. Ang aming tanging layunin ay matulungan ang ating mga magsasaka na lumago ang kanilang aanihing palay at lumaki rin ang kanilang kikitain sa pagsasaka,” sabi ni Lim.

Taking their time-off to pose for a sou-venir photo after attending a hybrid rice festival sponsored recently by SL Agritech in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat. Among those in photo are (from left) Coincilor Noel Antonio, Mayor Helen Latog (of Esperanza), Mayor Emilio Salamanca (of Pres. Quirino), Glen Garcia (Board Member of Sultan Kudarat), Dr. Frisco Malabanan, Mayor Bai Ruth Sakularan (of Sul-tan Kudarat), Tom Gimenez (VP-for Marketing-SL Agritech), Kagawad Ismael Macasayon, Nestor Casador (Provincial Agriculturist of Sultan Kudarat) and Kagawad Ibrahim Macasayon.

Enriquez – representing Dir. Leo Caneda ng DA-Region 7).

Mr. Edel Dondonilla-DA Cen-tral Ofc Regional Agri-Pinoy crops coordinator (Rep. Dante De-Lima – Agri-Pinoy Natl Program Coordinator) Dr. Eufemio Rasco, Jr. – Executive Director of Phil-rice; Tom Gimenez,VP for Mktg SL Agritech Corp (kumatawan kay Mr. Henry Lim) at Cong. Arthur Yap ng 3rd District ng Bohol

Hybrid rice festival ginanap...Dumalo din sa okasyon sina

Mayors ng Mabini at Alicia, Bo-hol- Esther Tabigue and Marnilou Ayuban, Vice-Mayor of Carmen-Pedro Budiongan Jr, Dr. Frisco Malabanan, SL Agritech consultant, Engr. Eugene Cahiles-PATCO Bo-hol Province, Dr. Mary Jean Du-Chief, R&D,Bohol APC, Rogelio Davalan-Techno Demo Coordinator, Ms. Arsenia Tapon, Municipal Agri-culture Officer ng Lila.

GINTONG BUTILSEPT-OCT 2011 9

he said.Data shows that older African

rice plants produced only about 75-100 grains per panicle or head of grain. However, the hybrid rice varieties produced by SL Agritech could produce up to 400 grains per panicle and they could also be harvested 30-50 days earlier, thus allowing farmers to grow other crops such as beans and vegetables.

Nigeria joins 7 Asian countries to adopt

SL Agritech's hybrid rice technology

A Nigerian rice farmer.

In addition, Lim said, SL Agritech rice varieties have about two percent more body-building proteins than the older African rice varieties. “This is an impor-tant benefit for a region such as Africa where malnutrition affects millions of children and pregnant women,” he added,

Lim said his firm has like-wise sealed an agreement with Dai Thanh Agritech Seed Co., a Vietnam firm engaged in crop

seed trading and distribution. He said its initial shipment to that company was 60 tons of SL-8H super hybrid rice seeds.

The second shipment, Lim said will be 300 tons until they reach 2,000 tons.

It will be recalled that in the last two years, SL Agritech has made several shipments of its SL-8H super hybrid rice seeds to several other Asian countries, “the Philippines thus becoming

the third country next to China and India to export hybrid rice seeds to other countries,” he said.

Lim said it was more than 29 years ago when the Philippines first exported rice seeds to other countries. “Now, we rank number three after China and India as hybrid rice seeds exporter,” he said, adding that he considers this “as a big achievement not only for SL Agritech Corp. but for our country as well.”

(From page 1)

The transaction was pursu-ant to the agreement entered into by SL Agritech and Dai Thanh Agritech Seed Co. of Vietnam in 2010. The accord calls for SL Agritech to initially ship 60 tons of its SL-8H super hybrid rice seeds to that country.

Vietnam, where we import billions of pesos worth of our rice every year since 1985, is one of the world’s riches agricultural

regions. Vietnam is the seventh

Asian country to adopt the firm’s hybrid rice technology. The others are Malaysia, Myan-mar, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Burma and Indonesia. Nigeria, considered the most populated country in Africa with 140 mil-lion people, has also signed an agreement with SL Agritech to adopt its technology.

(From page 1)

SL Agritech to make 2nd hybrid rice shipment...

'Ang aming tanging layunin ay matulungan ang ating mga magsasaka na lumago ang kanilang aanihing palay

at lumaki rin ang kanilang kikitain sa pagsasaka.'

GINTONG BUTIL MAR-APR 201110

RICE, ANYONE?

DOÑA MARIA

‘JASPONICA’

'Kapag naluto na, kahit sardinas o kamatis na may kaunting bagoong lang ang ulam

mo, talagang gaganahan kang kumain lalu na kung mainit-init pa nga ang sinaing.'

The Doña Maria Jasponica premium rice is fast becoming a very popular local brand not only because of its fragrant and delightful aroma but its excep-tional eating quality as well.

“It’s comparable to imported quality rice which is more expen-sive. I have tasted Doña Jaspon-ica once and since then, I never tried to buy other kind of rice in the market,” said Dr. Santiago Obien, former executive director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

“Kapag naluto na, kahit sar-dinas o kamatis na may kaunting bagoong lang ang ulam mo, ta-lagang gaganahan kang kumain lalu na kung mainit-init pa nga ang sinaing,” he said.

Sold in vacuum-sealed packs of two, five, 10 and 25 kilos in leading groceries and super-markets, Doña Maria Jasponica is much cheaper than imported Thailand and Japanese rice.

To be more affordable to people and also because of the clamor of more and more house-

wives who have developed some sort of addiction to the Jasponica rice, SL Agritech Corp. has made it available also in vacuum-sealed packs of 300 grams in the market.

Doña Maria Jasponica is patronized by big hotels and restaurants in Metro Manila. “Most Koreans, Japanese and Taiwanese restaurants operating in the country serve Jasponica rice not only because it has bet-ter quality but it is much cheaper than imported Thai jasmine rice and Japanese rise,” said Henry Lim, chairman and CEO of SL Agritech.

Another premium rice that has a growing following from local consumers is the Doña Maria Miponica. Aside from its exceptional eating quality, it is also blessed with the unique texture of Milagrosa rice.

The two rice variants, pro-duced by SL Agritech Corp. and named in honor of the mother of Henry Lim, combine the fragrant aroma of Jasmine rice and the excellent eating quality of Japanese rice. “When cooked,

the grains achieve a soft, sticky and chewy texture enhanced fur-ther by their aroma,” Lim said.

“I am very proud of the fact

The others who have com-mended the exceptional eating quality of Doña Maria Jasponica and Doña Maria Miponica, were

that the Doña Maria rice brand is now becoming very popular among housewives. It is also being patronized by big hotels and restaurants,” Lim said, add-ing that Doña Maria hybrid grains are timely harvested, thus the maturity and fullness of the grains are export-quality guaranteed.

former Food Minister and Na-tional Food Authority Admin-istrator Jesus Tanchanco, Dr. Frisco Malabanan, former direc-tor of the Ginintuang Masagana Ani (GMA) hybrid rice program of the Department of Agriculture and former Ifugao Congressman Gualberto Lumauig who, like Malabanan, is also a rice farmer.

...now becoming very popular among housewives.

naman, bakit nagsabi si G. Alcala ng ganong kaiksing panahon eh gayong alam niyang napakadami pang dapat gawin para mapaunlad ang ating agrikultura? Nandiyan ang pagpapagawa ng mga patubig o irigasyon sa mga sakahan, pagbibigay ng mga suporta sa mga mag-sasaka sa pamamagitan ng postharvest facilities at marami pang iba.

Naalala ko yung sinabi noon ni Dr. Achim Dobermann deputy director general for research ng International Rice Research In-stitute (IRRI) sa Los Banos, Laguna, sa isang interview sa kanya, na makakamit daw ng Pilipinas ang rice self-sufficiency “in five

Supisyente sa bigas?(Mula sa pahina 12)

years or more but not by 2013.” Sa nasabing interview, he cautioned the Department of Agricul-

ture against raising unrealistic expectations.At syanga pala, kung inbred rice variety pa rin ang pag-

pipilitan ng Dept. of Agriculture na itanim ng ating mga mag-sasaka, lalung magiging imposible na ang Pilipinas ay maging self-sufficient sa bigas sa loob lamang ng mahigit isa’t kalahating taon simula ngayon. Alam naman siguro ng DA na ang inaaning palay sa pagtatanim ng inbred o ang tradisyonal na uri ng palay ay umaani lamang ng mga 70 hanggang 80 cabanes isang ektarya samantalang ang uri ng hybrid rice kagaya ng SL-8H, ay umaani mula 190 hanggang 250 cabanes kada ektarya.

Even agriculture graduates are not going into farming

Filipinos generally dislike farming. They think tilling the soil is a menial, humiliating chore; their values are all mixed up.

This attitude prevails even among the country’s agriculture graduates. A Filipino sociologist has observed: “Most agriculture graduates do everything but farm; they take government jobs, teach, do research, etc. They don’t want to touch the soil.”

The country has about 150 agricultural schools. Only three out of every 100 graduates roll up their sleeves and work in the farm.

Agricultural workers are de-creasing in number every year.

A survey by the Food and Agri-culture Organization (FAO) shows that large numbers of farmers mi-grate to urban areas seeking jobs.

The FAO observed that the average farmer earns less than the average blue-collar worker and that income from agriculture is well below the national average.

Henry Lim, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of SL Agritech Corp., said “we could reverse this situation by supporting

By SANNY GALVEZ

gardening.“The government should

launch a nationwide program for the farm training of out-of-school youths in the rural areas. We have millions of hectares of idle

send them to school. They could be trained not only on farming gut also on related activities,” Lim said.

This writer was in Hamburg, Germany in 1980 with six other agriculture writers to attend the 4th World Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journal-ists (IFAJ). Part of the seven-day conference, which was attended by some 250 delegates from 52 coun-tries, including the Philippines, was a whose-day tour of German farms where we observed grains and animal production.

Germany has an efficient ag-ricultural system despite its being a leading industrial country. Ger-man agriculture is almost totally mechanized. This was unavoidable, according to some farmers we had interviewed because they said, they found themselves having to resort to machines to replace the labor which was drifting from the land into the towns.

And for another, they said, mechanization increases produc-tion and, hence, yields.

our farmers not only in produc-tion inputs, credit and technology, but also by creating more attrac-tive market opportunities in the rural areas.”

“They key to increased pro-duction is still the farmer, and any agricultural development remains ineffective if the problem of small

GINTONG BUTILMAR-APR 2011 11

farmers are not solved,” he said.He said small farmers usual-

ly supplement their income with earnings from other farm-based occupations such as poultry and

agricultural lands which, if devel-oped, would not only make them productive but would also provide gainful employment to the youths whose families are just too poor to

SA KABUKIRANNi JOH DUNGCA

Supisyente sa bigas?Mahigit isang taon at kalahati na lamang, magiging supisy-

ente na tayo sa bigas. Hindi na tayo mag-aangkat o mag-iimport pa. Ito ay kung, uulitin ko, kung magkakatutuo ang pagka-kasabing ito ni Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (mahigit na ngayong isang taon noon), na magiging self-sufficient tayo o ang Pilipinas sa bigas.

Mangyari nga kaya ito –isang taon na lamang at ilang buwan na lamang magmula ngayon? Sa tutuo lang, nakakaduda at masasabi ko pa ring nakakapagtaka na mangyayari ito sa loob lamang ng ilang buwan simula ngayon? Kahit naman siguro hybrid rice ang itatanim ng mga magsasaka ngayon, mahirap pa rin na maging supisyente tayo sa bigas. Sa loob ng isa at kalahating taon? Imposible! Kasi

(Sundan sa pahina 11)

(Sundan sa pahina 8)

Hybrid rice festival ginanap kamakailan sa Lila, Bohol

Sa pangunguna ni Cong. Yap at Mayor SalazarNi JOH DUNGCA

Ang ilan sa mga magsasakang nagsi-pagtapos sa Palay Check Field School habang nagsasagawa ng ceremonial rice threshing.

Kuha ang larawang ito sa isang ceremonial hybrid rice harvest na dinaluhan nina (mula sa kaliwa) Vice Mayor Frederick Raut ng Lila, Bohol; Abel Dama-lerio, board member; Mabini Mayor Esther Tabigue; Rep. Arthur Yap; Alicia Mayor Marnilou Ayuban; PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio Rasco Jr. at iba pang kinatawan ng probinsiya ng Bohol.

Kasama si Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap (panglima sa nakatayo) ng mga magsasakang nagsipagtapos sa nasabing Palay Check Field School na ginanap noong nakaraang Setyembre 23 sa Lila, Bohol.

Isang matagumpay na hybrid rice harvest festival ang ginanap kamakailan sa munisipyo ng Lila sa Bohol., na dinaluhan nina Cong. Arthur Yap ng 3rd District ng Bohol, Vice Mayor Frederick Raut, kumatawan kay Mayor Re-gina Salazar Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., executive director ng Phil-ippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Regional Technical Director ng DA-RFU7, Angel Enriquez at Board Member Abel Damalerio, ang kumatawan kay Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto.

Ang Hybrid Rice demonstra-tion farm ay isang collaboration project ng Local Government Unit o LGU ng Bohol, Dept. of Agri-culture, Philrice at mga private seed grower sa lalawigan .

Tatlongpu’t-limang ektarya

ang tinaniman ng ibat-ibang va-riety ng hybrid rice –Mestiso

variety 16,19 at 20 ng PhilRice at SL 8H, 9H at 11H ng SL Ag-ritech Corp. Ito ay ginanap sa mga palayan sa barangay Lomanoy,

Taug at Malinao.Ang nakapagtala ng pinaka-

mataas na crop-cut ay ang SL Agritech hybrid rice (SL-8H) sa palayan ni Mang Ernesto Da-lay na umabot ng 11.3 tonelada kada ektarya o 220 cavanes kada

ektarya. Siya ay pinangaralan sa isang “ceremonial harvest” na ginanap noong Sept. 23.

Nilalayon ng proyektong ito na maiangat ang produksyon ng palay sa probinsiya ng Bohol sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng hybrid rice. Sa ngayon ay umaani lamang ng average na 2.5 tonelada kada ektarya o 50 to 60 kabanes kada ektarya ang mga magsasaka dito sa pagtatanim nila ng inbred o tradisyonal rice variety.

Pagkatapos ng ceremonial harvest, ang lahat ng mga mag-sasakang sumali sa “timpalak” at ang mga panauhin, ay dumalo sa Graduation Ceremony ng Palay Check Farmar’s Field School na ginanap sa Lila Gymnasium.

Ang mga nagbigay ng mga mensahe sa nasabing palatuntunan ay sina

Hon. Frederick Raut – Vice Mayor ng Lila (representative ni Mayor Regina Salazar) Hon. Abel Damalerio – 1st District Board Member (representative ni Gov. Edgar Chatto)

Reg Tech Director, Angel