The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday it conducted the first harvest festival for locally produced hybrid rice seeds in Barangay Rang-ay, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental province, this week.

In a statement, DA 11 (Davao Region) Executive Director Macario Gonzaga cited the importance of innovation, the development of local seed production, and the future outlook where agriculture drives growth to improve the lives of Filipino farmers.

This initiative aligns with DA’s Administrative Order 9, which focuses on promoting and developing hybrid rice production and recognizes the importance of supporting local seed production to strengthen the agricultural industry, Gonzaga said.

“The order emphasizes that hybrid rice seed production should be prioritized, as it contributes to improved productivity, better disease resistance, and increased resilience in the local rice farming community,” he added.

During the harvest ceremony, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., represented by Director Emerson Yago, the designated focal person for rice clustering and consolidation under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, said using locally produced hybrid rice seeds reduces the country’s dependence on imported seeds.

Based on DA-11 data, about 2,024 hectares in the region are planted with hybrid rice during the dry season. Of the total, 1,737 hectares are located in Davao Oriental, with the municipalities of Banaybanay and Lupon being the top hybrid rice seed producers.

Yago added that the DA targeted a ratio of 60 percent imported and 40 percent locally produced hybrid rice seeds in 2024.

This year, the DA aims for 40 percent imported and 60 percent locally produced. (PNA)