“We’re not here because it’s an easy life. We’re here to make lives easy.” This is the essence of serving the Filipino rice farmers, according to Dr. Santiago R. Obien, now 87, first DA-PhilRice director. A crux deeply ingrained that no insurgencies, vandalized fields, travel ordeals, and limited resources can interrupt. Conflict passers-by Reaching the marginalized farmers entails faith without neglecting self preservation. Datu Ali “Alex” Sumlay of DA-PhilRice Midsayap, […]
Categories: Features
“We’re not here because it’s an easy life. We’re here to make lives easy.” This is the essence of serving the Filipino rice farmers, according to Dr. Santiago R. Obien, now 87, first DA-PhilRice director. A crux deeply ingrained that no insurgencies, vandalized fields, travel ordeals, and limited resources can interrupt. Conflict passers-by Reaching the marginalized farmers entails faith without neglecting self-preservation. Datu Ali “Alex” Sumlay of DA-PhilRice Midsayap, development […]
Be RICEponsibly healthy. The public is encouraged to consume healthier rice produced by Filipino farmers in the month-long celebration of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) this November. The celebration, which kicks off on Nov. 8, raises awareness on the importance of healthier forms of rice that are locally produced such as pigmented and brown rice with the theme “Be RICEponsibly healthy.” Golden Rice is also being introduced. Food scientist […]
A sturdy stronghold in troubled times, Castillejos in Zambales is fortifying its territory by prioritizing good supply of healthy and safe food with assistance from PhilRice’s RiceBIS project. Eleanor D. Dominguez, mayor of Castillejos, said that the restricted movements due to the pandemic, destructive typhoons, and crooked traders have severely affected not only the farmers, but also the consumers as these factors threaten food production and the supply chain. Like […]
Agriculture specialists and farmers acknowledged the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) for the training programs and technologies extended to its stakeholders. On the Institute’s 35th anniversary, Nov. 5, Louderick Jimena, agricultural extension worker in Occidental Mindoro said PhilRice training contributed to his development as extensionist educating farmers in their area. “PhilRice gave me the much-needed confidence in making decisions on the field. Through PhilRice, I have a scientific […]
Albeit worried and uncertain, two PhilRice women-leaders did not lose their reins in handling the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) programs when the Luzon lockdown was resorted to beginning in mid-March. Amidst the intimidating pandemic, their worries were beyond contracting COVID-19 and their own welfare. Selfless, their foremost concern was helping drive national programs crucial in motivating farmers to continue planting rice. For about two months, Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey, […]
Albeit worried and uncertain, two PhilRice women-leaders did not lose their reins in handling the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) programs when the Luzon lockdown was resorted to beginning in mid-March. Amidst the intimidating pandemic, their worries were beyond contracting COVID-19 and their own welfare. Selfless, their foremost concern was helping drive national programs crucial in motivating farmers to continue planting rice. For about two months, Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey, […]
Farmer-recipients of inbred certified seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed Program are reporting higher harvests and additional income for the first half of the year. A survey by the Socioeconomics Division (SED) of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) showed that rice yield of more than 4,000 farmer-beneficiaries in 55 provinces averaged 4.14t/ha. Dr. Jesusa Beltran, SED head, said that the harvest is higher by 0.44t/ha than […]
