President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently appointed the executive director of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and its new Board of Trustees members. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. swears in Dr. John C. de Leon for his second term as PhilRice executive director on July 30 as the country seeks to boost rice production and support farmers. During his five-year term, de Leon focused not only on science […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has issued a warning to rice farmers to closely monitor their fields for major pests, particularly as the wet season exacerbates pest attacks. This caution comes from findings by the Pest Risk Identification and Management (PRIME) Project, a key initiative under the Department of Agriculture aimed at safeguarding crops and preventing significant yield losses. Leonardo V. Marquez, a PhilRice crop protection expert, emphasized the […]

Rice growers are optimistic about the PalaySikatan initiative under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, which aims to modernize rice farming and reduce production costs.  Recent activities in Casiguran, Aurora and Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte highlighted the program’s potential benefits and the enthusiasm of local farmers. In Casiguran, Jaime E. Bautista, chair of the Esteves Farmers’ Association (EFA), expressed confidence in the initiative’s goals, which include increasing rice […]

Isandra Pernitez, a former social worker from Lanao del Norte, has made a career shift to agriculture, becoming a farm trainer under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP).  With a background in assisting typhoon victims through various non-governmental organizations, Pernitez has now channeled her skills into empowering rice farmers and promoting agricultural development. Pernitez discovered her passion for rice farming in 2022 while working with […]

Para sa tag-ulan na taniman, inilunsad ng Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program ang proyekto na PalaySikatan 2.0, ito ay mas pinalawak na technology demonstration sa mga piling lugar. Sa PalaySikatan 2.0, ang mga rekomendadong binhi ng inbred na barayti kasama na ang iba pang makabagong teknolohiya sa pagsasaka ay ipapamalas sa mga palayan na may lawak na 50 ektarya kada site. Kada season, ang PalaySikatan 2.0 ay isasagawa […]

A participatory climate risk-mapping workshop organized by the Climate-Smart Maps for Strengthening Adaptation Plans of Farming Communities (CS Map) project developed by PhilRice and Central Luzon State University (CLSU) was held on April 30 at the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian in Santa Cruz, Laguna. This is to assist local governments and communities by developing provincial maps on climate risks and crop suitability, and creating climate change adaptation and mitigation […]

The Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) community in Batac City, Ilocos Norte received a financial boost in their agro-enterprise endeavors from Senator Bong Go’s Malasakit sa Kooperatiba Program, in collaboration with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), on May 10 in Rosales, Pangasinan. The Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative was among the 22 recipients of PhP50,000 financial grant in Region I, empowering them to boost their agricultural productivity and enhance their economic […]

PhilRice Bicol showcased its rice-farming innovations and services through the Rodeo Festival in Masbate City and in the 2024 Agri-Fiesta 5th Agri-Expo in Camalig, Albay. Through its RicExhibit platform, PhilRice connected with farmers and stakeholders, distributing knowledge products and promoting ICT-based tools such as the Binhing Palay and PalayCheck apps. In Region VIII, the station participated in the Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Day at the Visayas State University’s Centennial Founding Anniversary […]

The “Scaling Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Project for Salt-Affected Rice Environments Project in Sta. Magdalena was officially launched on May 31, marked by a seed distribution, and the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by all involved parties. Following initial coordination in 2023, the project was introduced in Sta. Magdalena to bolster its food security thrusts. Most of the fields in the project area had been fallow for two […]

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, again commends PhilRice for its effective implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Rice Extension Services Programs. At an official Congress activity on May 14, Villar highlighted PhilRice’s achievements, noting substantial increases in farmers’ yields largely resulting from the extensive distribution of inbred certified seeds.  “I’ve been the chair of the committee for eleven […]