Knowledge, perspiration, inspiration and chance.
These are the ingredients that propelled Henry Lim, also known as Henry Lim Bon Liong, to become the Philippines’ leader in rice production.
Speaking before the Foundation University graduating class of 2012 last Sunday, Lim told the story of how he took over the helm of his parents’ company, the Sterling Paper Products Enterprise, Inc. at the age of 24 and transformed it into the Sterling Paper Group of Companies.
Sterling Paper Group of Companies is in the paper, stationery and packaging business, as well as property development, retail chain of stores, call center and lately, in agriculture.
One of his companies is the SL Agritech Corporation, which produces hybrid rice. Hybrid rice, notably the SL-8H variety, has been shown to give farmers a harvest of up to 300 cavans per hectare.
Lim credits his knowledge of hybrid rice to a Chinese researcher by the name of Prof. Yuan Long Ping, considered the Father of Hybrid Rice. He said it was providence when Prof. Yuan agreed to assist him in bringing the technology to the Philippines.
Based on Prof. Yuan’s findings of how hybrid rice is developed, Lim and his scientists developed the SL-8H variety, the first hybrid rice variety suited for tropical countries.
Lim said the SL-8H is also being exported to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and other tropical countries.”
Lim said his rice seeds are the answer to the looming rice shortage worldwide. “Many are still knocking at our doors for seeds including Brunei, Malaysia and even Nigeria and Kenya,” he said.
“It only takes 800,000 hectares of rice area planted with SL-8H for the Philippines to be self sufficient. Beyond 800,000 hectares will make us a rice exporter,” Lim said.
Lim said he finds it ironic that our neighboring countries buy seeds from him while the government imports rice from these countries.
“The inspiring stories of the farmers who have tried and succeeded in propagating hybrid rice gives me the inspiration to continue promoting the technology on a higher level,” he said.
He said the sight of happy faces of farmers whose lives have been touched thru the hybrid rice farming method has given him a different level of fulfillment. “It is an excitement beyond money and fame. It is a social responsibility that I took upon myself to advocate and champion rice technology for mankind,” he said.
Lim challenged the graduates to take the road less-travelled and become an enterpreneur. “I can assure you that entrepreneurship will give you more sleepless nights yet it will be full of challenges and fulfillment for the height of your success lies with the depth of your failures and width of the hurdles you were able to overcome.”
In becoming an entrepreneur, Lim shared the qualities imparted to him by Prof. Yuan.
“First, you should know your business. Second, you have to work hard and invest some money.
“Third, you should have inspiration because you are going to fail more than a thousand times but you must not quit. Fourth is divine intervention–you should be on the lookout for a chance to achieve your dream.”
After the commencement exercises, Lim encouraged Foundation University President Dr. Mira Sinco to try planting hybrid rice in its experimental farm in Tanjay City.
Lim, who came with his son Brian and Dr. Noel Mamicpic, SL Agritech vice president for seed quality control, also met with some officials of Dumaguete City led by Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria and some officers of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by its president, Edward Du.
