Batac City, Ilocos Norte – Participants here of the first batch of Training of Trainers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) are now equipped to help enhance farmers’ competitiveness. Sonia V. Pojas, RCEF training coordinator in the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), said that trainees showed dedication and commitment during the course, which was completed last week of November.      The 15 participants who underwent two […]

Specialist-graduates of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) will train farmers on modern rice farming in Agusan del Norte come next year. Trained on PalayCheck – an integrated rice production system, agriculturists in the local government of Cabadbaran City said that they will conduct series of training to irrigation system members and farmers through Farmer Field School. The rice specialists were also trained on operating farm machines […]

Recent graduates of the Rice Specialists’ Training Course (RSTC) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) were urged to continue living by the mission to help the Filipino rice farmers. Karen Eloisa Barroga, deputy executive director of Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), said PhilRice training courses were enhanced with a module that ignites the sense of passion to help Filipino rice farmers among its trainees. […]

Three advocacy groups were selected as recipients during the Institute’s December activities.  “As the world fights this pandemic, it is only just to share more of our blessings to groups who are trying to make a difference in these challenging times,” Dr. John C. de Leon, DA-PhilRice Executive Director, said.  Proceeds from the activities were given to Talikala Inc. (talikala – Cebuano word for chain), a human rights group against […]

It’s a common narrative of success when farmers increase their yield and sell their harvests at a competitive price. In an industry where the middlemen often take home the biggest share, it may be a little bit hard to believe that farmers can succeed in marketing their own produce. In just three years, an Ilukano farm cooperative, reached P2.5M in assets. Unbelievable, but it happened. Ruthbell Pammit, 56-year-old chair of […]

To help farmers, especially in the aftermath of three strong typhoons that struck major rice-producing provinces in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) urges local government units (LGUs) to heighten support for the rice growers. “We believe LGU executives are in the best position to assess the needs of our rice farmers,” DA Sec. William D. Dar said in a statement delivered by his representative Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan in […]

Farmer-partners in the technology demonstrations under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program promote the use of farm machines to minimize rice production costs. Following farm recommendations in the demo sites dubbed as Palay Sikatan, farmers Eduardo Cabago and Jonathan de Guia shared the benefits of using machines on crop establishment. The said farmers, who offered their farms in Mabitac, Laguna to showcase farm machines and recommended rice varieties, said […]