Harvest Time
PhilRice was well worth the investment
By Sosimo Ma. Pablico
AS A PUBLIC R&D [research and development] investment, PhilRice [Philippine Rice Research Institute] was well worth it, according to a team of experts who made an external review of the Institute’s impact.
Consisting of retired IRRI deputy director general Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo, former UP Mindanao chancellor Dr. Rogelio V. Cuyno, Dr. Louie A. Divinagracia, and Dr. Mercedita A, Sombilla, the team was contracted by the Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR) to conduct the impact evaluation last year.
In their report, the team said PhilRice started to make an impact early in its development without waiting for new technological innovations “to get going in extension, knowledge dissemination and techno transfer activities.” PhilRice used the existing rice science, knowledge and production technologies from the earlier works of BPI (Bureau of Plant Industry), UPLB (UP Los Baños) and IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) while it was developing new knowledge and technologies.
The team noted that by 1991-92 the scientific and extension communities already noticed PhilRice for its R&D outputs with the release of some varieties which it had tested nationwide. Coupled with these varieties were the best practices in the growing of these varieties which came out from its agronomic research.
Through the years PhilRice has contributed to increased national rice production and farm level productivity, more income for farmers, and better resource utilization. These were driven by: new technological innovations; promotion, knowledge dissemination and techno transfer activities and strategies; and related factors.
The new technological innovations included improved inbred and hybrid varieties, improved crop management practices, and cost-reducing and increased-efficiency technology. On the other hand, promotion, knowledge dissemination and techno transfer activities were techno promos on farmers’ fields, farmers’ field schools, group of cooperators in the Palay Check and Palayamanan projects, field days, lakbay aral, training and technical briefings, seed kit, technical assistance, extension, training materials, and the OPAPA [Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture].
The other related factors were biotech techniques, development and implementation of a national field testing and management system for both inbred and hybrid varieties, R&D network development, scientific meetings and conferences, training and internship in rice research, and advanced degree training and continuing professional development.
The team said development and promotion of commercialized varieties and crop management technologies enabled PhilRice to contribute to the increase in productivity growth in the past decade, which resulted in the turnaround of growth rates from the low levels in 1985 to 1996.
In irrigated areas where the technology packages work well, the net income of farmers increased from P3,268 a hectare (based on year 2000 prices) in 1995 to P12,142 a hectare in 2004. Farmers in rainfed lowland and upland areas also benefited from the use of modern varieties and information learned from PhilRice extension and promotional activities, resulting in increased net incomes from P3,085 a hectare in 1995 to P6,263 in 2004.
In irrigated areas planted to modern varieties, yield in 1997 -2006 was 220 kg/ha over 1991 -1996. In non-irrigated areas planted to modern varieties, yield increase in 1997 – 2006 over 1991 -1996 was 100 kg/ha. In upland areas planted to modern varieties, yield in 1997 – 2006 over 1991 – 1996 was more dramatic at 260 kg/ha.
The team also estimated that every peso invested for PhilRice generated a net benefit of P6.81 for the Philippine economy. In other words, each peso earned an average 29 percent net annual rate of return until 2006.
In 2006 the country produced 10.268 million tons of rice and had a deficit of only 40,607 tons.
(Readers may reach columnist at spablico@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/harvest-time/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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