Business · Philippines Bureau
Agusan farmer banks on hybrid rice for P1.26M harvest despite drought
A Prosperidad-based farmer has harvested an estimated P1.26 million from his six-hectare hybrid rice farm, even as prolonged dry conditions devastate neighboring fields across Agusan del Sur province.
LSN Philippines ·
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — While agricultural production across Agusan del Sur has suffered from an extended dry spell, farmer Roger Villegas has achieved a significantly different outcome with his hybrid rice operation. Villegas stood Wednesday alongside stacks of freshly harvested palay, marking what officials project could yield approximately P1.26 million from his six-hectare farm.
The promising harvest results from crop sampling conducted by Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga division technicians during assessment activities in the municipality. The sampling process provided the basis for projecting the farm's total yield and estimated revenue.
The success of Villegas's hybrid rice cultivation stands in contrast to the struggles faced by thousands of farmers across the province whose conventional crops have withered under the region's sustained dry weather conditions. Hybrid rice varieties have demonstrated improved resilience and productivity in various Philippine growing conditions.
The harvest highlights the potential of adopting alternative crop varieties and modern agricultural techniques to mitigate risks posed by climate variability in Mindanao's agricultural sector.