Masagana Program spurs growth and gains of Acuit Rice Cluster

Iloilo City- In Barangay Acuit, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, rice farmers have long struggled with high input costs, erratic weather, pest infestations, and limited access to government support, which have kept their harvests and income low. Many of them had depended on home-saved and inbred seeds, which often produce less than 100 sacks per hectare yield. Thus, their net income, after over three months of waiting for harvest, was barely enough to sustain their families’ needs, let alone save for the next planting season’s expenses.

“Before the cluster was organized, we farmed on our own. Fertilizer was expensive, seeds were limited, and farmers in our area didn’t have the right training or technology,” recalled Marilyn Baylosis, president of the Acuit Rice Cluster and the Barangay Acuit Farmers Association.

Many relied on the limited seed assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA), usually only one bag of inbred seeds per hectare, often complemented by just a single bag of urea fertilizer. The support was far from enough, and not all farmers were eligible. Many resorted to borrowing money for inputs, only to end up in debt after harvest.

Farmer members such as Arnulfo Marasigan and Lucrecia Enggada were among those farmers who encountered such predicaments in rice farming. They both shared that direct seeding was the common practice, as manual transplanting required more labor expenses. However, direct seeding made their crops less resilient to pests and strong winds, thus resulting in low yields and poor grain quality.

With the DA’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP), 94 farmers decided to unite and form the Acuit Rice Cluster on February 14, 2024. They were all driven to attain significant changes in their productivity and gradually ease their plight as rice farmers.

In the 2025 wet cropping season, the Acuit Rice Cluster was selected as a partner in the DA’s 50-hectare Technology Demonstration for hybrid rice as part of the MRIDP implementation.

“Many of us had never planted hybrid rice before. But we were encouraged by DA to try, so we decided to take the challenge together,” said Marilyn, who has also been an inbred rice seed grower in Barotac Nuevo for years.

Under the clustering approach, the DA provided a comprehensive package of technologies and interventions. Farmers received 15 kilograms of hybrid rice seeds, 4 bags of Triple 14 fertilizer, 3 bags of urea fertilizer, and 1 bag of Muriate of Potash (MOP) for every hectare of rice area. For enhanced soil health, they were also provided with soil ameliorants and biofertilizers.

According to Marilyn, additional inputs were distributed in the second release, including two more bags of Triple 14 fertilizer and one bag of urea fertilizer per hectare, ensuring that crops received sufficient nutrients throughout the growing period.

Although they were surprised to learn that only 15 kilograms of hybrid seeds are needed per hectare since they were accustomed to planting 40 kilograms of inbred seeds, they decided to follow the guidance provided by the DA. “At first, we thought it was impossible, but as we embraced the new technology, we found that 15 kilograms is enough,” said Marilyn.

Beyond inputs, farmers were also introduced to the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service, which provides recommendations on the right element, amount, and timing of fertilizer application to optimize nutrient use, reduce fertilizer waste, and ultimately improve yields.

Before the start of the planting season, DA and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Barotac Nuevo conducted thorough training on hybrid rice production and discussed technologies as well on pest management and farm mechanization. Farmers were taught how to properly prepare seedbeds and transplant hybrid seedlings.

“I can still remember that in the past, hybrid seeds were distributed, many of us failed because we didn’t know the proper techniques,” said Arnulfo,  a farmer who cultivates six hectares. “This time, the DA ensured we were properly trained first.”

Lucrecia, who manages five hectares of irrigated rice fields, agreed. “Before clustering, I practiced direct seeding because fertilizers were expensive. I used to harvest only 220 sacks from 2.5 hectares of rice areas. But now, with hybrid rice, I harvested 292 sacks, each weighing 50 kilograms. The training and timely support really helped.”

Farmers learned the advantages of transplanting over direct seeding. Transplanted hybrid rice showed stronger tillers, more resilience during bad weather, and fuller panicles. Some members used seedling trays and manual transplanting, while others opted for mechanical transplanters to speed up operations.

“The hybrid rice had stronger stems and fuller grains,” said Marilyn, who went on sharing that from an average of 100 cavans per hectare, the farmers’ average yields climbed to 120 cavans or more. In some areas, yields even reached 145 to 150 cavans per hectare.

“This year, we harvested an average of 150 sacks per hectare,” Arnulfo proudly shared. “The hybrid seeds, fertilizers, and training made it possible.”

Aside from higher yields, production costs went down. With DA’s complete fertilizer package and timely delivery of inputs, farmers saved significantly on expenses.

In 2020, the Acuit Farmers Association, which became a rice cluster last year, benefited from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund mechanization component. The group received Php 5 million worth of machinery from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, including one unit each of a four-wheel drive tractor and a rice combine harvester. These reduced labor costs and postharvest losses, while ensuring better grain quality.

Out of their savings, they even managed to purchase additional units.“We currently have two tractors and two combine harvesters. We charge only Php 6,000 per hectare for harvesting, and we always set aside funds for maintenance,” said Marilyn.

She also mentioned that their cluster plans to request a flatbed dryer from the department, which would allow them to dry their harvested palay and sell their consolidated harvests to the National Food Authority (NFA) for a higher price.

Through the clustering strategy, coordination among farmers has improved.  They now set planting schedules, share information, and support each other through a group chat. “Before, we worked alone and solved our problems alone. But now, we discuss everything collectively,” Marilyn shared.

The success of the Acuit farmers inspired nearby barangays. During the Field Day on September 19, 2025, farmers from other barangays in Barotac Nuevo visited their technology demonstration site to observe the high-yielding hybrid rice firsthand.

“Seeing other farmers admire our harvest made us proud. We shared with them the technologies we have learned from the DA’s Masagana Program,” Marilyn shared.

The cluster’s initial success has become a model for hybrid rice production in Barotac Nuevo, prompting nearby barangays to also organize their own clusters.

Despite their growth, the farmers acknowledge that challenges remain. The rising cost of fertilizers and low farmgate palay prices continue to affect their profit margins. However, with proper assistance from the DA and agricultural technicians of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo Municipal Agriculture Office, they are learning to adapt through balanced fertilization, integrated pest management, and proper water management.

By utilizing science-based farming technologies and maximizing support from the DA and the Municipal Agriculture Office, farmers are now seeing significant improvements in their expenses, production, and yield.

Through the DA’s Masagana Rice Program, farmers gained optimism and drive to continue planting rice and strive to make rice farming more productive and profitable despite uncontrollable factors, such as the price level of their harvested grains.###Text by Sheila Mae T. Cocjin and Photos by Sheila Mae T. Cocjin & Cristine Lauresta