Calbayog City, Samar – Farmers here expressed optimism that the rising cost of farm inputs, particularly fertilizer, will be cushioned by the recommendations promoted in the “Abonong Swak (Swak sa budget. Swak sa Palay)” campaign. Efren Velasco, farmer in Brgy. Malahog, said that balanced fertilization, which he learned from the campaign launched here on June 2, is promising as studies show that it can reduce fertilizer cost by P2,000-P4,000. Velasco […]

The Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture or AMIA Program is one of the Key Strategies under the ONE DA Framework. Among the main focus of the AMIA Program is conducting regional and provincial climate risk and vulnerability assessments to identify proactive measures in adapting to changing climate and the hazards that it brings. Its main approach is the establishment of the AMIA Village to serve as a […]

Members of the Marasat Grande and Dagupan RiceBIS Association (MarDag) in San Mateo, Isabela were willing to be together, let alone committed to doing things as a group. The rice business lane PhilRice Isabela started to promote RiceBIS in 2017 in San Mateo, inviting 33 barangay captains to serve as farmer-cooperators. In the end, only Jose V. Guillermo from Brgy. Marasat Grande and Diosdado S. Sagaysay from Brgy. Dagupan qualified […]

Consider farming a business enterprise – this has been PhilRice’s “gospel” to Filipino farmers. The Institute believes that they can help the country compete with neighboring nations if they produce more, lessen their production cost, and sell their produce at a competitive price. This can be accomplished with the help of local government units and other partner-entities. One of PhilRice’s allies is Maria Theressa Rodriguez-Peralta, the first lady mayor of […]

Mestizo 1 (PSB Rc72H) lingers on Dumon Mabborang’s mind – irreplaceable and undeniably better than the others. Mabborang, 63, of Buan West, Solana, Cagayan first planted it in 2003. A technician from DA convinced him to try the variety. Until now, he is still an avid fan of Mestizo 1. Mestizo 1 still Mabborang asserts the variety has better eating quality than most inbreds. “When cooked, it is soft, aromatic, […]

What could be more challenging than farming at the top of a mountain? Some farms in Claveria, Misamis Oriental do just that. Farmers here tend plants in steep slopes with erosion-prone and acidic soils while rainfall serves as main source of water. But these obstacles do not bother them. Their ally? The trees – which are beneficial to rice and other crops.   Myth about trees Some farmers think that […]