LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—One of the leading hybrid rice seed producers in the Philippines, SL Agritech Corporation, signed an agreement at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on May 3 to join the Hybrid Rice Development Consortium (HRDC).
According to HRDC coordinator and hybrid rice breeder Dr. Jauhar Ali, as an HRDC member, SL Agritech Corporation will have access to IRRI’s recommended hybrid rice varieties and parental lines for testing.
“We are happy to join HRDC. There is no doubt, of course, that IRRI is the world authority in rice,” shared Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, chairman and CEO of SL Agritech Corporation. “Although we have our own research and development team, it will be great to compare what IRRI is doing and what we are doing. Through this, we will
be able to speed up the development of hybrid rice varieties,” he added.
“I’m sure the sharing of knowledge and experiences will be really helpful for the consumers,” noted IRRI’s director for external relations, Dr. Corinta Guerta.
Originally established in the Philippines, SL Agritech Corporation now operates in three other countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The company has also started operating in Myanmar and India. However, the corporation is not all about profit. “Our company works hard to support organizations that help farmers,” said Dr. Frisco Malabanan, senior technical and promotion consultant of SL Agritech.
Last year, the company pioneered a rice bucket challenge, during which Dr. Liong gave 5,000 buckets of rice to 5,000 poor families in the drought-stricken areas of Mindanao and challenged big business owners and even celebrities to do the same. “We have a strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) component in our programs and that’s one of the reasons I joined SL Agritech,” said Dr. Malabanan.
Other news items
Hybrid rice seeds get highest yields for rice farmers in Bohol
TAGBILARAN CITY — A rice farmer from Paraiso, Mabini town in Bohol, Estarlita Vallecera got for the first time the highest yield from its hybrid rice farm when she harvested an average of eight metric tons per hectare during his actual harvest last October 16 and the...
DA asks seed firms to promote hybrid rice tech
HYBRID RICE TECH. Crispulo Bautista Jr., executive director of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Central Luzon, delivers his message during the Hybrid Rice Derby Field Day and Farmers’ Forum at the Central Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva...
Hybrid rice: Corteva slowly making inroads into Bihar, Jharkhand; trains 90K woman farmers
Global agriculture firm Corteva Agriscience is slowly making inroads to push its hybrid paddy seeds and other products in Bihar and Jharkhand, where it has trained about 90,000 women pravaktas or village leaders on growing hybrids along with agronomic practices and...
Hybrid rice yield likely to increase by 40-50pc in Sindh, S.Punjab
LAHORE - Hybrid coarse varieties of rice are likely to give 40-50 per cent more yield in Sindh and South Punjab this year. Favourable weather conditions, good and timely rains, improved seed quality and proper technical support from seed companies resulted in more...
Bioseed partners with IRRI on biotechnology research and hybrid rice development
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Bioseed, the hybrid seed business of DCM Shriram Ltd., are pleased to announce that they have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Signed by Bioseed SEA Executive Director Dr. Paresh Verma and IRRI Director...