By Perla Lena

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas is eyeing an average yield of 6.5 to 8 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) from its Scalable Hybrid Rice Model Farm Establishment Project this wet season.

The hybrid rice model farm project covers 500 hectares in farm clusters in municipalities of Culasi, Hamtic, Patnongon, San Jose and Sibalom in Antique and Ajuy, Concepcion, Igbaras, Pavia and Zarraga in Iloilo, said the DA regional agri-fishery information section (RAFIS) report on Monday.

“We identified the participating rice clusters with a minimum area of 100 hectares, with farmer-members registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. By conducting georeferencing, they shall have a baseline yield of at least four metric tons per hectare,” DA Field Operations chief and Rice Program Focal Person Ryan Rasgo said in the report.

Each municipality established a 50-hectare model farm cluster in fully irrigated rice areas with adequate drainage. They are planted with one or two hybrid rice varieties registered with the National Seed Industry Council and selected for their suitability to local conditions.

The cluster-based approach is designed to demonstrate rice production technologies at a scale large enough to generate practical production data and encourage wider farmer adoption.

The project promotes smart agriculture through soil testing, georeferencing, climate-smart maps and climate-support machinery and equipment to improve farm decision-making and disaster risk management.

Cooperators are also capacitated to adopt the PalayCheck System, Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy, laboratory-based soil analysis and Integrated Pest Management, said the DA–RAFIS report.

Rasgo added that the DA will assist farm clusters through the harvesting and post-harvest stages.

Harvested palay from the model clusters will be dried through a Rice Processing System operated through partnerships with qualified farmer organizations. The dry palay may then be marketed to the National Food Authority or private buyers under pre-arranged agreements, providing farmers with potential market outlets after harvest.

The project has a total target coverage of 1,000 hectares for the 2026-2027 implementation period, also covering another 500 hectares during the dry season.

During the dry season, the target average yield is 8 to 10 MT/ha. (PNA)

Published Date: August 10, 2026