Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala is urging farmers to shift to the transplanting method instead of the common practice of direct seeding when they plant rice.
Alcala noted that the seed requirement for direct seeding is high unlike the transplanting method. A hectare needs at least three to four bags of palay when the direct seeding method is employed whereas the transplanting only requires one bag for every hectare.
If farmers are not comfortable with the transplanting method they may use the drum seeder, a technology developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute.
The DA said that transplanted palay seedlings are not susceptible to pests and diseases and will assure farmers of higher yield. [PNA]
