A farmer from Rizal, Mindoro Occidental, won first prize in a contest sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for having the biggest yield of the latest hybrid rice variety.

Ernesto P. Pablo Sr. had a yield of 106 metric tons  (MT) (212 cavans) of SL-8H rice for every hectare, which is three times more than the national average of three metric tons (60 cavans) a hectare.

For his harvest, made during the last dry cropping season, Pablo earned a net income of P90,617 a hectare.

The second prize went to Norma Lozada of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, who had a record harvest of 8.8 MT (176 cavans) a hectare and a net income of P66,288 for every hectare.

The seven other winners in the nationwide technology demonstration of the SL-8H rice surpassed the eight tons per hectare harvest.

In his response during the awarding ceremonies held at the Corinthian Gardens Clubhouse in Quezon City last July, Pablo said that because of the high yield of SL-8H in his rice farm, other farmers in Occidental Mindoro are ready to shift to planting the hybrid variety.

Dr. Frisco Malabanan, director of the Agriculture department's "Guintong Masaganang Ani" rice program, said the other awardees were Guerrero Canoy of Pili, Camarines Sur, 8.8 tons for every hectare; Agustin Palapala of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, 8.6 tons; Venerado Sanchez, Calapan, Mondoro Oriental, 8.4 tons; Pilipino Capitulo of Gerona, Tarlac, 8.4 tons; Benigno Ramos of Pila, Laguna, 8.2 tons; Oscar Asperas of Sta. Rosa Nueva Ecija, 8.2 tons, and Francisco Agwayas, of Tabuc, kalinga, 8 tons.