Written by the Web Team   Rice tillers in four barangays in Nueva Ecija had benefitted from the Farmers` Field School conducted by African trainees and supervised by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the province`s Science City of Muñoz. Ludivico Natividad of Lupao, Nueva Ecija said his yield increased by two cavans by adopting PalayCheck, an integrated crop management system for rice, technology disseminated through the Institute`s season-long […]

Written by Charisma Love B Gado   The gun, bomb, and rope. For Evelyn Martin, a househelp and grandmother of three aged from 5 to 9 months, these symbols are enough for her to never try Genetically Modified products. “Why would I eat that food if these posters show me that GMO is bad for my health? I might get crazy and kill myself through gun or rope like in […]

Written by the Web Team   As the National Year of Rice (NYR2013) enters the last quarter of the year, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is calling for moves in 2014 to make the country`s rice economy competitive, sustainable, and resilient. According to Dr. Manuel Regalado, PhilRice deputy executive director for research, the Philippines imported only 200,000 tons (t) of rice this year, which is relatively lower from the […]

Written by the Web Team   Amid the ongoing debate on the country’s capability to achieve rice self-sufficiency, and the finger pointing on who is at fault for reportedly unstable rice prices, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that it is high time that the issue on rice wastage be addressed thoroughly. Hazel Antonio, campaign director of the National Year of Rice 2013 (NYR2013), said that local […]

Written by the Web Team   More than 600 farmers from Regions 4A and 4B were recently congratulated for their hard work that will help the country achieve rice self-sufficiency. During the recent Farmers` Field Day in Los Baños, Laguna, local government officials, professors, and researchers, consultants and executives from different agencies extended their heartfelt gratitude to the 600 farmers from MIMAROPA and CALABARZON. The farmers were overwhelmed with the […]

Written by the Administrator   If we owe the future to our children, then why are we afraid of tools that have the potential to help make the world a better place for them? Instead of working together to utilize science for the welfare of all, a “war” had been subtly fought in the field of biotechnology since scientists at the University of Washington developed the first genetically modified (GM) […]

Written by Jaime A Manalo IV   There is a massive internet information about the perceived horror related to patenting life forms, plants included. In her 1998 book, Biopiracy: The plunder of nature and knowledge, Indian activist Vandana Shiva explores the struggles of Third World countries to protect their crops and indigenous knowledge. Shiva asks thought-provoking questions in her monograph such as “Can life be made?” and “Can life be […]

Written by Christina G Abadilla-Frediles   As the scientific community is assuring and affirming the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops, especially corn, an often rice-based crop, more farmers are supporting the use of GM seeds. They are asserting that in knowing the best crop and seed to plant, farmers themselves have the right to choose. Such is the case in Oriental Mindoro. Although the Mindoro Ecological and Sustainable Agriculture […]

Written by the Web Team   The mechanization of rice farms will result in the creation of more jobs, according to an engineer from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). “Most farmers are hesitant to accept rice mechanization because they think this will displace them from work. But displaced workers in the farm can become farm machine operators, fabricators or technicians,” said Eden Gagelonia, PhilRice engineer and head of the […]

Written by the Web Team   Dr. Roel R. Suralta, one of the country`s pioneering researchers in root studies based at the Philippine Rice Research Institute, is one of this year`s Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees. The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is “conferred on an individual or group for exceptional contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest.” Suralta was also conferred the Scientist I […]