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Here's the first paragraphs of a longer article in Reuters that details how the hybrid rice programme in the Philippines is being funded with money seized from former dictator Ferdinand Marcos that was destined for land reform:

Gregorio Concepcion did not hesitate in 2004 when he was chosen to plant hybrid rice on his small farm in a northern province known as the rice bowl of the Philippines.

It looked like a good deal to Concepcion, one of millions of farmers still waiting for the benefits of a land reform program, funded by money seized from late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, that is caught up in political warfare in Manila.

He would be paying just half price for the higher-yielding seeds being pushed and subsidized by the government to try to attain self-sufficiency in the country's staple food.

After two cropping seasons on his 5 acres of land, he dropped out of the experiment, complaining it was a failure that nearly drowned him in debt.

"I was promised higher production by at least 15 percent per hectare," Concepcion said. "Low prices and higher production cost got me and other farmers into trouble."

A healthy farm sector is vital to the Philippines. Agriculture accounts for around 20 percent of national output and in addition to rice, the southeast Asian country grows coconuts, sugar cane, mangoes, corn and other fruits and vegetables.

Research by non-governmental groups SEARICE and Rice Watch Action Network has shown the hybrid seeds are not suited to most areas of the Philippines and farmers are not adequately prepared.

It questioned the government's decision to promote them...

(From: Manny Mogato, "Filipino farmers suffer drought of Marcos money", Reuters, Mar 1, 2006)

Reuters on one Filipino farmer's experience with hybrid rice