Science City of Muñoz – The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has produced an information kit to equip farmers with information on how they can better adapt to the impacts of climate change. 
Said info kit is a “ready-to-print” material that contains a list of climate change-ready technologies the farmers can use for rice and rice-based farming systems. It includes the recommended varieties that can withstand different climate-related stresses such as drought, salinity, and flood.
For water-saving technologies, PhilRice recommends the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and low-cost drip irrigation system (LDIS) technologies.
AWD guides farmers when to irrigate (or not) the rice field. Hence, this prevents wasteful use of water. PhilRice studies show that use of AWD also minimizes greenhouse gas emissions in paddy fields. LDIS is also for efficient use of water and is recommended for irrigating rice-based crops.
Meanwhile, fossil fuel-free technologies such as the rice hull gasifier-pump system, windmill- pump system, rice hull stove, and carbonizer are also featured.
The rice hull gasifier-pump system uses rice hull instead of gasoline or diesel in pumping water from the ground. It is recommended for rainfed areas where fuel expenses are high.
The wind mill-pump system is applicable in areas where wind energy is abundant.
A device called rice hull carbonizer is for processing the rice hull into biochar (charcoal). Aside from being used as soil conditioner, biochar is also popularly used as main ingredient in producing organic fertilizers thus reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers.
Additionally, the kit also features Palayamanan Plus, an integrated and diversified farming system, and some harvest and postharvest technologies.
Farmers, extension workers, or anyone interested may download the kit from the institute’s website or contact the PhilRice Text Center (0920-911-1398) should they want to know more about the climate change-ready technologies for rice and rice-based farming.
Click here to download the climate change kit.
