irst nationwide contest, by the Philippines Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) focuses on reducing rice production costs. Dubbed Palayabangan: The 10-5 Challenge, it begins in June and aims to bring the rice production standard to 10-5, or 10 tonnes per hectare yield at only PHP5 (US$0.12) input cost per kilo of palay. The current average input cost is pegged at PHP11 (US$0.26) per kilo.Rice watch
As part of the National Year of Rice campaign to increase productivity and boost farmers’ morale, Palayabangan (“rice watch”) will “show farmers what they can do to improve yield and reduce production cost,” said Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director.
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