Written by the Web Team
Returning scholars of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are getting ready to make farming more profitable.
In a recent meeting, executive director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr urged them to support the “10-5 project,” PhilRice`s new initiative that aims to produce 10 t/ha at P5 input cost for a kilo of rice produced.
Rasco said that average rice yield is around 4 t/ha while average production cost is P11/k.
“High yield at lower production cost be achieved by integrating all best possible technologies including Integrated Crop Management practices and using farm machinery for land preparation, crop establishment, and harvesting,” Rasco said.
Graduating from top universities here and abroad, 11 PhilRice scholars will take lead in developing and implementing projects on plant breeding, crop protection, rice chemistry, economics, and development.
They are Arlen A. dela Cruz who took up PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; Myriam G. Layaoen, MA Communication; Evelyn M. Valdez, MS Entomology; Marilyn B. Amoin, MS Agricultural Economics; and Joanne M. Domingo, MS Plant Breeding.
“We`ll give back to the country this privilege of supporting our graduating studies. The farmers could expect better technologies and services from PhilRice,” Layaoen said.
Scholars who will also craft projects supporting the initiative include Arvin Paul P. Tuaño, graduate of MS Biochemistry; Ev A. Parac, MS International Development; Joel V. Pascual, MS in Community Development; Richard D. Romanillos, MS in Community Development; Babylyn U. Tizon, MS Agronomy; and Rizzla I. Salas, MS in Digital Communication.
Tuaño was cited for garnering the second highest general weighted average among the UPLB graduating master`s students.
With scholarships from PhilRice, Department of Science and Technology, and Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program, the returning scholars graduated from the University of the Philippines, Nagoya University, and Maejo University.
