Sugpon, Ilocos Sur — The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program has catalyzed a significant 13.5% increase in rice yield in this town,  highlighted during the wet season’s kick-off ceremony, where 150 indigenous farmers received free certified inbred seeds. Municipal Agriculturist Victoria S. Sumagca lauded the contributions of RCEF. “Because of RCEF, Sugpon has achieved a 13.5% increase in our production yield, from an average yield of 3.93 metric […]

As the planting season approaches, rice farmers in Tarlac are gearing up to receive a boost from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, which is set to distribute over 80,000 sacks of certified inbred seeds across the province. The province recently received 400 sacks of RCEF certified seeds distributed to more than 150 farmers from Victoria, Gerona, and Tarlac City. This distribution marks the program’s third consecutive season […]

To prepare the rice farmers for the wet season, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program recently distributed over 1,400 sacks of certified inbred seeds in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur. This distribution is part of the province’s broader allocation of more than 80,000 sacks. Spearheaded by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Midsayap, a program briefing was recently conducted alongside the kick-off ceremony of seed distribution to familiarize […]

The scars of the COVID 19 pandemic still itch in the memories of the farmer-members of the St. Vincent Parish Multipurpose Cooperative in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya; yet, these marks only make them stronger and the farming cadence more progressive in rhythm. As they persevere in the post-pandemic recovery of the rice industry, the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) catalyzes the sector’s […]

Making machinery available and accessible to more farmers is a big challenge, but thanks to our partner manufacturers, it became possible. The two-decade partners PhilRice and Guimba, Nueva Ecija-based Val Agri signed a licensing agreement in 2020 to manufacture and commercialize the machines for land preparation and post-harvest, such as microtiller, laboy tiller, reversible flatbed dryer, and seed cleaner. Microtiller is a lightweight equipment used for tilling small-sized paddies, while […]

A Masbate official has announced that an 8t/ha-rice yield was harvested in one of their farms during the wet season following recommendations from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program. “Our usual harvest is only 2.5t/ha. Thanks to the RCEF PalaySikatan techno demo in Mobo, we witnessed that 8t/ha yield is possible,” Provincial Agriculturist Graciana Tagnipez said.  PalaySikatan Farmer Cooperator Ruby Briones attributed her abundant harvest to the use […]

After nearly four decades of grappling with farming challenges in Pinukpuk, Kalinga, Melecio Pecasio Jr. embarked on a learning journey. Recognizing the limitations of traditional farming methods that were affecting his yield and income, Melecio enrolled in the Farmer Field School (FFS) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP). In 2021, Melecio completed 14 sessions of lectures and hands-on training at Clemencia’s Rice-based Integrated Farm […]

Antique farmers have achieved a 1t/ha-increase in yield by using the certified inbred seeds distributed by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program.  Previously, farmers relied on home-saved seeds yielding 2-3t/ha. With RCEF certified inbred seeds, yields have increased to 4-5t/ha. Antique’s implementation of RCEF operations and extension services has earned it the excellence award for the best province during the RCEF Seed and Extension Annual Review held in […]

Farmers in Atimonan, Quezon have seen a significant increase in yield and income by using certified inbred seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program and adopting new farming practices. Nhel Victor Verastigue, president of Brgy. Malusak Rice Farmers Association, reported that the certified inbred seeds, NSIC Rc 216, he received from RCEF doubled his yield from the usual 3.3t/ha to 6.6t/ha. Meanwhile, Joselyn Anda, president of Brgy. […]

Jenipher Onera, a recent farm school owner, charts a remarkable course from overseas Filipino worker (OFW) to a successful rice educator; thanks to the emblematic impact of her thirst for knowledge nourished by Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP). After 18 years as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), she returned to her hometown in Batac, Ilocos Norte when her mother […]