DA-PhilRice through its Midsayap branch on June 29 received three units of agricultural machines from the Government of Hungary through its embassy in Manila as part of a technical cooperation on agricultural research and technology.  The MUMGÉP grader, tractor drive branch chopper, and Umwelt suspended rotary hay rake are expected to boost the branch’s rice research and production activities. Dr. Titanilla Toth, ambassador of Hungary to PH, turned over the […]

Rice production is very vital regardless of major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, especially because rice is a necessity. That is why despite hurdles, those who are tasked to increase rice production through hybrid rice persevere. Before the pandemic, Dr. Fidel Ramos, senior science research specialist at DA-PhilRice Isabela, related that their three-hectare parental seed production area in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya was already difficult to reach when there is typhoon […]

Training the rice specialists so they can help farmers become more competitive is one of the objectives of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Rice Extension Services Program. With rice specialists becoming more competent, fully equipped, and having the heart to help farmers, the country’s rice industry can flourish. Wilmar Ompoc, one of the Rice Specialists’ Training Course (RSTC) trainees, has always been eager to acquire knowledge to manage […]

A crop health training aimed at improving the Negros team’s pest monitoring and data collection process was conducted by the CES-based Pest Risk Identification and Management (PRIME) team on June 29. The PRIME project sets up monitoring fields where collected data are sent to a Web App that gives out alerts in case of increased pest incidences. Negros station has 30 crop health monitoring fields at present.

To further understand their situation and determine the specific needs of farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) for capacity development, assistance, and support, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program started conducting in June-July focused group discussions (FGD) with 120 identified FCAs nationwide. The results were assessed and validated by the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech). Fifty Luzon-based FCAs have gone through the FGD led by DA-PhilRice, with […]