The Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) – Batac has conducted a farm walk in Bugasi, Banna, Ilocos Norte that showcased high-yielding varieties and cost-reducing technologies. Employing PalayCheck, an integrated crop management system, the varieties shown were NSIC Rc 480, Rc 506, Rc 508, Rc 510, and Rc 512. It also used the mechanical transplanter and multi-purpose seeder for crop establishment. Most of the farmers preferred NSIC Rc 510 (Tubigan 43) […]

PEST AND NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY BUSTERS. The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte recently trained 26 rice specialists on pest and nutrient management. Pest management is critical on rice production as failure in this area could lead to an estimated annual average loss of 37%. Meanwhile, excessive nutrients will cause pest damage, lodging, and soil pollution. The participants, who underwent training for three days, were […]

BURAYOC, PAGUDPUD, ILOCOS NORTE – Rice farmers here recently tried the mechanical transplanter showcased in a techno demo facilitated by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program. Used for rice establishment, the mechanical transplanter has helped farmers in RCEF techno demo sites dubbed as PalaySikatan. Farmers who used the farm machine for one season said that it reduced transplanting cost by almost 50%. The cooperators reported that they used to […]

LA UNION – Rice growers in two municipalities in La Union expressed readiness this wet cropping season with the assistance from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) programs. Alejandro Eduardo Baladad, one of the beneficiaries in Naguilian, said he is hopeful that the RCEF seeds will help him increase yield despite the incoming season’s threat on pest infestations. Under the RCEF-Seed Program, farmers in Region I received free certified seeds […]

Farmer association in Naguilian, La Union, reported an increase in their harvest and decrease in rice production cost through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program. Gregorio Ramos Jr, president of the Naguilian Irrigators Service Association Inc., said their association had received farm machineries while 210 of their members were recipients of certified inbred seeds from RCEF. “By using certified inbred rice seeds and farm machines, our harvest increased by 2t/ha, and some of […]

Former DA-PhilRice Executive Director Santiago R. Obien (SRO) urged Batac staff to “continuously lift the burdens of the poor farmers” during the station’s 22nd anniversary celebration.  Obien, who served as the Institute’s first director in 1986-2000, said that the station’s success depends on whether it had managed to raise the harvest and income of the rice farmers. As stipulated in the Institute’s strategic plan, the station is expected to improve […]

Farmer-cooperators in Brgy. Lagui-sail, Laoag City harvested 6t/ha from the usual 4 t/ha this wet season by adopting the recommended inbred rice varieties and farm machines. Demonstrated in PalaySikatan – a demonstration area showcasing technologies promoted by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program, national and regional recommended varieties including NSIC Rc 222, Rc 216, and Rc 160 showed good performance. City Agriculturist Marilyn G. Martin said that farmers were impressed […]

Batac City, Ilocos Norte – Participants here of the first batch of Training of Trainers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) are now equipped to help enhance farmers’ competitiveness. Sonia V. Pojas, RCEF training coordinator in the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), said that trainees showed dedication and commitment during the course, which was completed last week of November.      The 15 participants who underwent two […]

As a rainfed rice farmer, Noel D. Galut of Ilocos Norte is concerned about water and labor scarcity in their area. These were addressed by the Multi-Purpose Seeder (MP Seeder) for direct seeding introduced to him in 2018. MP Seeder is a device attached to a hand tractor that direct-seeds rice, corn, and mungbean. “Back then, it would take four persons hired for P300 each per day to plant half […]

Rice Agriculture Farmers RCEF An official of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte lauded partner-agencies in implementing a government’s flagship program benefitting over 55,000 farmers in Region I. Executed amidst a health crisis, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program delivered more than 200,000 bags of free certified seeds of the region’s recommended rice varieties. “Despite limitations and danger posed by the pandemic, […]