SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) based in Barangay Maligaya here has been promoting a new high yielding rice varieties to help farmers increase their production.

Thelma F. Padolina, division head of PhilRice’s Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division, said the varieties have maximum yield potential ranging from 9 to 12 tons per hectare.

Padolina said the varieties, released since 2009, are noted for their 1 ton per hectare (t/ha) yield advantage over the previously bred varieties.

The inbred varieties, suited for the irrigated lowlands, include NSIC Rc212 (Tubigan 15), Rcc214 (Tubigan 16), Rc216 (Tubigan 17), Rc222 (Tubigan 18), Rc224 (Tubigan 19), and Rc226 (Tubigan 20).