Hybrid rice production and commercialization:the Philippine experience

• Published in: Philippine Journal of Crop Science (Philippines)
• Main Authors: Gaspar, M.G., Philippine Rice Research Inst., Isabela, Malasin, San Mateo, Isabela (Philippines), Laygoen, M.G., Philippine Rice Research Inst., Maligaya, Science City of Munoz, 3119 Nueva Ecija (Philippines)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2008
• Subjects: ADOPCION DE INNOVACIONES; ADOPTION DE L'INNOVATION; FILIPINAS; GOBIERNO; GOUVERNEMENT; GOVERNMENT; HIBRIDOS; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_11230; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3707; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3878; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5438; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5783; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6062; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_6937; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7644; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7645; HYBRIDE; HYBRIDS; INNOVATION ADOPTION; ORYZA SATIVA; PHILIPPINES; POLICIES; POLITICAS; POLITIQUE; PRODUCCION DE SEMILLAS; PRODUCTION DE SEMENCES; SEED PRODUCTION; TECHNOLOGIE; TECHNOLOGY; TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER; TECNOLOGIA; TRANSFERENCIA DE TECNOLOGIA; TRANSFERT DE TECHNOLOGIE
• ISSN: 0115-463X

The introduction and commercialization of hybrid rice technology in the Philippines were greeted with much skepticisms and criticisms. Despite the negative views it drew from some groups,hybrid rice managed to permeate the agricultural mainstream by increasing the adapters' productivity and profitability. Results showed that hybrid rice seed and commercial production areas significantly increased from time of introduction to commercialization. Government policies especially on seed subsidy and marketing support coupled with the technology's potential to improve yield greatly affected farmers and seed growers' adoption behavior. The increasing trends in the area planted revealed, however, that through the years, the adopters gained knowledge on the technology which made them confident on their production practices and to continuously engage in hybrid rice production. The stories as experienced and told by the implementers,farmers, seed growers, researchers, extensionists, policy makers, and other stakeholders gave a lesson that in every introduction of a new technology, all plans should be well-studied and properly laid out before implementation. The target beneficiaries and trainers should be well equipped with knowledge on the technology. Government support system should not only focus on giving financial and technical assistance. More importantly, it should concentrate on strategies that would ensure the technology's sustainability such as developing a marketing support. Hybrid rice, indeed, is an answer to feed the country's burgeoning population. However, technologies have to be refined, policies polished well, and the socioeconomic and cultural impacts factored in without undermining the sensibilities of farmers and stakeholders in their dreams and daily struggles.