Hybrid rice

BioRice Zarap (NSIC Rc 162H) Hybrid Rice: Yield, Maturity and Characteristics

NSIC Rc 162H is a hybrid rice variety for irrigated lowland, sold as BioRice Zarap or BioZarap and known locally as Mestiso 8. The NSIC approved it in 2007. Bioseed bred it. It matures in about 111 days and averages 5.8 tonnes per hectare, with a top yield of 7.7 tonnes in trials.

5 min read Updated October 17, 2026 By the anee.io agriculture team Read it all with Libre + Anee
Ripe palay heads, the harvest a hybrid like NSIC Rc 162H is bred to fill

The average and top yields in tonnes per hectare come from the trials each variety went through to be registered with the NSIC, and from what the seed companies say about their own seed.

What farmers harvest today can be different. Newer harvest records, the season, the place, the soil, the water and the care all move these numbers over time.

So use them to compare varieties, not as a promise for your field. Ask your seller or your agriculturist how the variety did on farms near you in the last few seasons.

If you came here looking for BioRice Zarap or BioZarap, or rice variety 162H, this is the one. Compare it with the other varieties in our rice variety finder before you buy seed. Also read our guide to rice varieties in the Philippines for how inbreds, hybrids and special rice differ.

  • Maturity: about 111 days after sowing.
  • Yield: 5.8 tonnes per hectare on average, or about 116 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 7.7 tonnes.
  • Season: Dry season and wet season.
  • Holds up against: stem borer.
  • Watch out for: bacterial leaf blight, tungro, brown planthopper, green leafhopper.

Key facts about NSIC Rc 162H

Key facts of NSIC Rc 162H (t/ha means tonnes per hectare)
TraitValue
Year approved2007
Bred byBioseed
Sold asBioRice Zarap, BioZarap
Local nameMestiso 8
TypeHybrid
Growing environmentIrrigated lowland
Recommended seasonDry season and wet season
How to plant itDry direct seeded, transplanted, wet direct seeded
Recommended forThe whole country
Maturity111 days after sowing
Average yield5.8 t/ha
Top yield in trials7.7 t/ha
Plant height109 cm

How much does NSIC Rc 162H yield?

On average it gives 5.8 tonnes per hectare. That is about 116 cavans of 50 kilograms of palay. It sits below the average of the 180 irrigated lowland hybrids on the list, which is 6.9 tonnes. But the top yield, 7.7 tonnes, came from a trial with good water, seed and care. So plan your costs on the average, then work toward the top with the habits in our guide to raising rice yield per hectare.

How many days does it take to mature?

It takes about 111 days from sowing to harvest. Varieties of 100 to 120 days count as short duration and 120 to 140 days as medium, so this one counts as short duration. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains turn golden yellow. Because the day count drives every task, anee.io counts it for you from each lot's own planting day, with the growth stages and weather beside it.

Is it resistant to pests and diseases?

Reactions in trials: R resistant, MR moderately resistant, I intermediate, MS moderately susceptible, S susceptible. Some carry a second rating in brackets.
Pest or diseaseRatingWhat it means
Rice blastIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Bacterial leaf blightSusceptibleTook heavy damage
TungroSusceptibleTook heavy damage
Brown planthopperModerately susceptibleTook clear damage
Green leafhopperModerately susceptibleTook clear damage
Stem borerModerately resistantTook some damage but held up
Sheath blightIntermediateTook a middling share of damage

So scout early for bacterial leaf blight, tungro, brown planthopper, green leafhopper. When you see the first signs, check the guide before you spray, because the right timing saves more than an extra dose. If you are not sure what you see, our pest and disease finders help you name it from the damage.

Grain and eating quality

Grain quality of NSIC Rc 162H
MeasureValueClass
Amylose24.8 percentIntermediate
Milling recovery67.9 percentGrade 1
Head rice43.6 percentGrade 2
Chalky grains14.1 percentGrade 3
Grain length6.4 mmMedium
Grain shape, length to width3Not given
Protein8 percent

Amylose decides how rice cooks. With intermediate amylose, expect rice that is soft but not sticky. In fact, Filipino taste has moved from high to intermediate and low amylose rice, because people want it softer. Head rice is the share of whole grains after milling. So a higher number means fewer broken grains and a better price at the mill.

Where should you plant it?

It suits irrigated lowland, where you control the water. Level the field well so the water stands evenly, and plant together with the farms around you, so pests cannot move from field to field. Our guide to rice land preparation shows each step. It is recommended for the dry season and the wet season. You can plant it dry direct seeded, transplanted or wet direct seeded. For the right month in your province, see the best time to plant rice.

Plan your next season of NSIC Rc 162H

Set the planting day of each lot and anee.io dates every task to harvest, with the weather beside it. Free on the Libre plan.

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Varieties like this one

These come from the same kind of farm and grow about as long. So if seed of this one is hard to find, compare these first.

  • NSIC Rc 306H: 111 days, 5.9 tonnes per hectare on average, 2012
  • NSIC Rc 410H: 112 days, 5.8 tonnes per hectare on average, 2015
  • NSIC Rc 384H: 111 days, 6 tonnes per hectare on average, 2014
  • NSIC Rc 310: 112 days, 5.7 tonnes per hectare on average, 2013
Is BioRice Zarap the same as NSIC Rc 162H?
Yes. BioRice Zarap is the name it is sold under, and NSIC Rc 162H is its registration with the National Seed Industry Council, where its local name is Mestiso 8. The numbers on this page are for NSIC Rc 162H.
What is the local name of NSIC Rc 162H?
It is known as Mestiso 8. Seed sellers and agriculturists use both names, so ask for either one.
How many days does NSIC Rc 162H take to harvest?
About 111 days after sowing. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains are golden yellow.
What is the average yield of NSIC Rc 162H?
It averages 5.8 tonnes per hectare, about 116 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 7.7 tonnes. Your own yield depends on water, seed, fertilizer and timing.
In which season should I plant it?
It is recommended for the dry season and the wet season. Then pick the month with our planting calendar guide and the forecast for your town.
Is this variety a hybrid?
Yes. So buy new seed each season, because seed saved from a hybrid crop does not grow true and yields less.

See how BioRice Zarap (NSIC Rc 162H) will do on your farm

With Libre + Anee, see its full record: how it yields, its strengths and weaknesses against pests, diseases and the weather, and whether it fits your farm, your season and your soil.

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