Written by Dr Emil Q Javier   “There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why…I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?…Robert Kennedy (A reader, Ms. Lilybeth Eleccion called attention to the attribution of the “Why Not!” quote to Robert Kennedy. The original quote was really made by the Irish playwright, essayist and 1925 Nobel Prize winner for literature, George Bernard […]

FutureRice program has proposed solutions to these problems, with the use of high-tech smart farming combined with natural farming and alternative energy to be integrated in its model farm. The FutureRice model farm will showcase technologies and practices that can improve the conditions of farming communities and protect the rice environment. Youth and farmers are expected to learn about high-tech smart farming combined with natural farming and alternative energy at […]

Subsidizing the agriculture industry is better than subsidizing farmers directly. This is the recommendation of Piedad F. Moya, IRRI economist, in her presentation during the rice R&D conference in PhilRice, Sept 3, 2014. “The Philippines can be competitive, comes ASEAN Integration, with the right support from the national government. Something must be done to the costly production of rice in the country,” she said. Moya and some PhilRice economists did […]

Underfunding of workers in rice extension is an important factor affecting the success of extension work. This is tackled during the Invigorating the Philippine Rice Extension System forum held on September 5 at PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. “Our extension workers lose their motivation since they are underpaid. We should increase not only their capabilities but their resources as well,” ATI’s Dr. Andrew Gasmen said. […]

A paper on mobilizing the youth to search agriculture information for the farmers received two commendations during the recent Communication Policy Research: south 2014 (CPRsouth2014) conference in Maropeng, South Africa. The paper, More than just a myth or a theory: Evidence of High School Students performing infomediary roles was included in the top eight researches and was also among the five policy briefs awarded with special commendation. It was chosen among […]

Farmers in the country`s seventh-largest island may further benefit from the  Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) as it constructs its eight branch station in Occidental Mindoro. Dubbed as PhilRice Mindoro Intensified Rice-Based Agribiosystem (IRBAS) station, the 4-ha site in Brgy. Alacaak, Sta. Cruz will focus on scientific rice production systems and showcase modern rice-based farming technologies, mechanized farming, and biodiversified farming systems. “IRBAS is a priority to help farmers make […]

Written by the Web Team   The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) re-launched the ten-year-old Rice Science Museum with the theme, Lovelife with Rice during the recent 27th National Rice Research and Development Conference held in Nueva Ecija. “This modified, redesigned science museum serves as our springboard in building a Rice Science Exploratorium that we hope to accomplish five years from now,” Diadem Gonzales-Esmero, museum curator, said. While there are […]

Written by the Web Team   Farming gets more high-tech with the mobile applications (app) being developed by information technologists in Nueva Ecija, the country’s rice granary. Android mobile app that can do three functions: measure farm area, calculate fertilizer needs, and assess nitrogen deficiency garnered the Most Innovative Application and the Special Jury Award during the recent AGRI-Hackathon hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). “With this app, […]

Study serves up healthy choice of rice

Super Bags to thwart rice wastage now available to Filipino farmers