Rice farmers were impressed by the ride-on precision seeder that is showcased in a field day and forum held in Sta. Cruz, Zambales, Oct. 13. The said field day introduced the precision seeder to Zambales farmers through a demo wherein the machine seeded about 2ha of rice field with NSIC Rc 222. The precision rice seeder is a self-propelled planting equipment that accurately drops seeds at a precise depth and […]

On the only way to a farm in Mataragan, Malibcong, Abra. Rice researchers, extension workers, development communicators, and other stakeholders travail long, difficult, and sometimes dangerous trails just to produce and bring the best technologies to the most obscure fields – for their dedication to service and love for farmers outweigh all the risks and hardships. This issue presents their stories that might have been unnoticed but have brought change […]

Roel Pagana from Tayabas City, Quezon increased his yield by 1t/ha by using certified inbred seeds and following recommendations from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). A farmer for three decades, Pagana planted new varieties such NSIC Rc 402 and new, pure seeds, which he received from RCEF Seed Program. Before the program, he used to rice seeds from previous harvest. From the usual harvest of barely achieving 4t/ha, his […]

Zambales rice farmers gave positive feedback on the use of direct seeding machines such as plastic drum seeder and ride-on precision seeder shown in a field day and forum held in Sta. Cruz, Zambales on Sep. 19 and Oct. 13. According to farmer Juanito Medida, he likes the plastic drum seeder’s precise depth and spacing. With the use of drum seeder, rice grains are seeded in straight rows allowing mechanical […]

Fulfillment in service. This is one of the driving forces for many youngsters to start a career in the government. While many start with this motivation, only a few stay and finish strong.  For Architect Renato Bajit and Dr. Caesar Joventino M. Tado, starting to work with DA-PhilRice in 1987 and 1997, respectively, was a “rare opportunity to serve the [Filipino] people.”  From scratch  As Bajit looks back, being one […]

A monitoring system developed for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program is awarded as the country’s Best in Future of Connectedness in the 2022 Future Enterprise Awards by the International Data Corporation (IDC). IDC, a global provider of market intelligence and advisory and information and communications technology (ICT)-related services, said the “award is given to organizations who transformed their system digitally to ensure that people, things, applications and […]

Farm machinery introduced in an ongoing training program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund were perceived gender-neutral by the women participants. “The machines are comfortable and easy to use. A lot of female farmers I know also want to have their own rice machinery because it makes farming easier,” Lorica Avila of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro, said in a hands-on activity on Oct. 5 in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. […]

Adding a vertical garden in a rice-based farming system augments sources of income; an established setup in the Palayamanan farm of the  Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) showed. Dr. Marissa V. Romero, lead of PhilRice’s project Modernized rice-based farming systems and value-adding technologies, said that integrating vertical garden in Palayamanan increases sources of food and income and enhances resiliency. Palayamanan integrates diverse crops and livestock in a farm […]

Subsequent to the donation of three agricultural equipment by the Hungarian government through its embassy in Manila, the Midsayap branch station is now beefing up its capabilities in rice processing. Equipment include one unit of chopper for chopping rice straw to suitable cutting length, a grader for classifying rice and extracting broken rice that is important in rice mills, and a rotary hay rake for collecting cut hay or rice […]

Local executives of Calbiga and Basey in Samar expressed support to the Golden Rice Program being implemented in their municipalities during its Ceremonial Tasting and Stakeholders’ Field Day, Oct. 4-6. “The program is beneficial; let’s treasure it,” said Mayor Red Nacario of Calbiga. Meanwhile, Basey Mayor Luz Ponferrada is hopeful that the program will help address malnutrition in the country. For this year’s wet season, Golden Rice was established in […]