The government has launched a new program to encourage more farmers to plant more hybrid rice varieties.

The "Plant now, pay later" program is designed to subsidize the expenses in rice production by farmers who use the hybrid rice.

Through the program, the government will provide subsidy for the price of seedlings as well as farm gate prices from the National Food Authority.

Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. said hybrid rice varieties are high-yielding. "It could double or triple rice production of farmers which in the long run will result to lower process of rice in the market"

Hybrid rice is being propagated in nearly all regions of the country.

"The increase in rice production brought back many farmers into the fields because rice farming has again emerged as a profitable livelihood option," Lorenzo said.