Missing fundamentals Workers plant rice in Los Banos town, in the Laguna province. The Philippines agriculture and fisheries sector remains far from modernised, according to experts. - AFP
Every day, 98-year-old Melencio Maniego walks the narrow earthen banks between his 16-hectare rice fields to inspect his crops.
“I’ve planted Chinese hybrid rice for over a decade,” the Filipino said, gazing across the green and yellow paddies in Central Luzon, dubbed “rice granary of the Philippines”.
Rice is a staple in the South-East Asian country, and Chinese hybrid rice has gained trust among local farmers for its high yield and resilience against diseases and strong winds.
“We believe in China’s advanced farming technology and expertise,” Maniego said.
Maniego was among the first in Victoria town, Tarlac province, to adopt hybrid rice developed by Longping High-tech, a Chinese agricultural company named after Yuan Longping, affectionately known as the “father of hybrid rice”.
“Since using Chinese hybrid rice, my yield has increased by over 30%,” he said.
As the world’s top rice importer in 2024, the Philippines faces pressure to boost domestic production.
“There’s huge potential for agricultural cooperation between China and the Philippines,” said Guo Xiaobo, head of Longping High-tech Philippine R&D Center.
Guo, who has worked in the Philippines for nearly a decade, said his team concentrates on developing high-yield, disease-resistant rice varieties.
The centre operates about 13.3ha of experimental fields in Nueva Ecija province, which is home to the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT).
John Davidson was trained at the PhilSCAT before he got his job as a technician at Longping High-tech in 2018.
“I learnt modern farming techniques there, and the Chinese experts were willing to share their knowledge,” said the 34-year-old Filipino.
Davidson said hybrid rice has steadily improved yields, strengthening food security and boosting farmers’ livelihood.
“I hope the bilateral agricultural cooperation continues. It brings real benefits to us,” he added. — Xinhua
