This year marks the 34th anniversary of DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) – country’s leading rice research agency. With the theme “Championing the Competitiveness of the Filipino Rice Farmers,” PhilRice conducted series of activities to honor the men and women behind the Institute’s success.  This year, the Institute has greater responsibility for the farmers as the lead agency for Rice Competitiveness Enhancement (RCEF) – Seed Program. SRO seminar series Speaking […]

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) grants Level 3 accreditation to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) as a gender-responsive agency.  According to PCW audit team, PhilRice’s programs, projects, and activities are “participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-determination, and actualization of human potential.” “This accreditation signifies that PhilRice researches and programs respond to clients’ needs; meaning, it exerts substantive efforts in […]

Palay price is generally based on the current price of rice in the local market, expert from Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said. Alice Briones-Mataia of PhilRice Socioeconomics Division said as a “rule of thumb,” the average selling price of rice is divided into two to get the estimated buying price of dry palay. “In August, average retail price of local regular milled rice was recorded at P38.38/kg. So our […]

Green chili and pechay for Sinigang, eggplant for torta, and lettuce for your samgyupsal are just some of the vegetables you can literally grow even in a small living space. Yes, space and resources are not limitations in having your own harvest. How? Reuse plastic containers Try container gardening! Reuse empty plastic bottles, baskets, tetra juice packs, cans, and basins as containers in cultivating edible plants, instead of growing directly […]

To increase the accessibility of high-quality seeds in Mindanao, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) establishing a 50ha seed production area, June 24.  “Farmers’ competitiveness starts with high-quality inbred seeds. We have to double our efforts in producing high-quality seeds as demand for foundation, registered, and certified seeds will increase with the implementation of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program […]

While pharmaceutical drugs are taken in when common illnesses strike, indigenous knowledge in three provinces comprised traditional rice varieties (TRV) as home remedies. In the “Ethnoguided Survey and Collection of Philippine Medicinal Traditional Rice Varieties,” 18 rice varieties were identified as medicinal in Palawan, North Cotabato, and Zamboanga del Norte. Across three sites, TRVs are used to treat fever, cough, measles, stomach ache, and diarrhea. Floper Gershwin Manuel, research lead, […]

In Region II, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in San Mateo, Isabela banks on radio to reach farmers in rural areas, which the station uses to relay updated agricultural information to increase farmers’ productivity and profitability. Based on a PhilRice study, radio is included in the farmers’ top three sources of agricultural information next to local government units and fellow farmers. For six years, PhilRice Isabela sustains its School-On-the-Air […]

Studies on ICT and satellite-based crop monitoring and typhoon-resistant farm structure were recognized in the 16th International Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Conference and Exhibition held in Negros Occidental, April 21-27. Out of 31 technical papers, “Operationalization of Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM): Revolutionizing Agriculture through ICT and Satellite-Based Crop Monitoring” emerged as the best paper. Judges noted the technologies’ contribution in providing reliable data for crop, pest, and damage monitoring. […]

Summer is one of the best times that we can fuel our children’s dreams. A PhilRice visit may give them a kick-start in knowing more about their passion and what they want to achieve.

A global trend is threatening food security.  Many of the young people are evidently leaving rural areas to pursue non-agricultural careers in urban districts. In the Philippines, a team from Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) finds a way to help engage the Filipino youth in agriculture. Dubbed as “Infomediary Campaign,” the campaign worked with the Department of Education (DepEd) to encourage the youth to explore the farming sector and to […]