QTA recommended amid drought

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) recommends quick turn-around technologies (QTA) and synchronous planting and other technologies to cope with the threats of drought.

“We encourage our farmers to practice quick turn-around technologies (QTA) that is in synchrony with the community. This means farmers with stable water supply are encouraged to plant immediately after they harvest,” said Johnny Maloom, PhilRice researcher.

“This has to be synchronous with the community so that they can avoid pest infestations,” he added.

The said practice can be best applied to areas that is minimally affected by the drought, however, to areas with real time problems on irrigation, Maloom said PhilRice recommends that they wait for ample water supply before planting rice.

“In PhilRice, we encourage them to plant high value commercial crops that needs minimal water unlike rice such as vegetables that is a short-duration crop which they can sell in the meantime,” he said.

Apart from other crops, Maloom also recommends the use of drought-resistant varieties.

“We also have drought-resistant variety that can be harvested in 104-110 days such as PSB Rc 10, NSIC Rc130, and NSIC Rc134,” he said.

“We also have that are suitable to drought-affected areas or upland ecosystem that requires less water, like NSIC Rc 194, PSB Rc 14, and PSB Rc 68 that can harvest up to 5.5 tons per hectare,” Maloom added.

Such varieties lower risks to drought and higher potential for harvest, Maloom explained. (Julianne A. Suarez)