More “Green Super Rice” in Pangasinan fields soon
STA. BARBARA–A new rice variety that can withstand the toughest growing conditions, introduced last year in Region 1, is proving to be flourishing best in the farmlands of Pangasinan.
Leonardo Balbalec, officer-in-charge chief at the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 and Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center (PREC), said the “green super rice” (GSR) is an environment-friendly rice variety that can resist drought, flood, salty water, even pests.
Noting the positive growth indicators in Pangasinan, the target area of 90 hectares for GSR production has been expanded, said Balbalec in an interview last June 19.
“Seed allocation (for Pangasinan) is continuous,” he added.
In other provinces (Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union) in the region, the allotted area for GSR growth is only 20 hectares each.
The cropping cycle for the GSR, which is supposed to produce more grains with less fertilizer input, is 110-113 days.
IN DROUGHT
At the same time, Balbalec said 16 trial areas have also been set up to test GSR growth in drought conditions, as well as with saline, and flooded areas.
On-farm seed production in irrigated target production areas is also underway with the cooperation of local farmers.
The GSR project involved 12 years of research by the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China with the cooperation of farmers from 16 countries in Asia and Africa.
The scientists cross-bred about 250 varieties.–Johanne R. Macob
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