Experts at PhilRice alert farmers to prepare for the rainy season by using appropriate varieties and technologies in rice farming. Dr. Norvie Manigbas, head of PhilRice’s Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division, advised farmers to plant varieties which stand at most 100 cm and with strong stems that can withstand 40-60 kph wind speed. Some of these varieties are PSB Rc14, Rc68, NSIC Rc9, and Rc222. “Rainfed areas are also prone […]

A PhilRice photographer recently won in the 5th IREX Make a Better World Photo Contest, May 10. The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), a US-based non-profit organization, selected best images of scenes and individuals around the world that demonstrate one or more of four theme categories: empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Jayson C. Berto, a videographer and writer from the […]

LIGAO CITY, ALBAY ― The PhilRice branch in Bicol is training farmers on agripreneurship in partnership with the local government of this city. The training program that started in January this year is in support of the Institute’s Rural Transformation Movement (RTM) to develop and promote rice-based enterprises. Key components of the program are record-keeping and marketing. Around 30 participants were taught on how to record their expenses such as […]

The PhilRice Text Center (PTC) posted a 47.3% increase in client registration nationwide for the first quarter of 2016. Data shows that from 18,924 registered clients in March 2015, it jumped to 27,883 as of March 31, 2016. PTC is a digital platform that provides daily consultation services to rice farmers through call and short messaging services (SMS). It also caters to students, extension workers, researchers, and other stakeholders who […]

Better extension service can be expected from 67 AgRiDOCs (Agricultural Development Officers of the Community) who completed a 4-month training at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), April 21. Titled Enabling the AgRiDOC: A New Breed of Agricultural Development and Extension Officers of the Community, the training prepared the AgRiDOCs to help raise the bar of extension services to develop sustainable, competitive, and resilient farming communities. The AgRiDOC training is […]

What happened to your crops? “Failure.” With those painfully heavy word, Mangansakan T. Kasan, 68, described the miserable fate of his rice crops brought by the inescapable El Niño.   Fallen yield Kasan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao is one of the farmers severely affected by this natural phenomenon. At his two-hectare farm, his normal harvest of 280 bags of rice were trimmed down to 125, barely enough to pay for […]

The Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) commended agricultural engineers and researchers of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for their studies and outstanding contribution in agriculture during the 66th PSAE Annual Convention at Mariano Marcos State University, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, April 24-30. PhilRice Scientist, Dr. Ricardo F. Orge won the Most Outstanding Agricultural Engineer or Maramba Award, the highest recognition given during the event. The same award was […]

Recognizing the urgency to tackle impacts of climate change on rice production, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) conducted the Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and rice production training, April 22-26. Forty-seven high school teachers from across the country were trained to teach crop production in the next academic year. The key aim of the training was to integrate lessons on climate-smart rice agriculture in the curriculum of the participating schools. The […]

Brown rice was sold for a historically low P37/kg during its launching in Bohol, April 20. The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in partnership with the National Food Authority (NFA) recently forged ties to push for the consumption of brown rice by making it more accessible and affordable to the general public. Launched at the Island City Mall Activity Center in Tagbilaran City, the BROWN4good Project will ensure […]