Rice farmers in Western Visayas will receive a bigger allocation of certified inbred seeds this wet season under updated Phase 2 guidelines of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Engr. Rojen F. Austria, RCEF coordinator of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Negros Occidental, said that the allocation was increased from two 20-kg bags per hectare to three bags or a total of 60 kg, following requests from farmers and […]

ILOILO—With fertilizer prices reaching as high as P2,700 per 50kg bag, rice farmers in the province are increasingly adopting the Minus-One-Element Technique (MOET), a soil diagnostic tool that identifies nutrient deficiencies in paddies and guides proper fertilizer use. According to the Department of Agriculture’s Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, the average cost of six major fertilizer grades currently ranges from P840 to P2,700. For farmers like Marilyn V. Duco, 69, of […]

Farmer Ramil B. Ballejo from Panay, Capiz credited Minus-One-Element Technique (MOET) for his abundant harvest of 7t/ha and 50% savings from fertilizer cost. This soil testing technology is promoted in the PalaySikatan 2.0 technology demonstration farms under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program.

Rice farmers in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental are enhancing their productivity and efficiency with advanced agricultural technologies provided by the local government under the PalaySikatan 2.0 Technology Demonstration Ceremonial Crop Establishment, part of the Rice Comprehensive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program. The program introduced drone-seeders, walk-behind transplanters, riding-type transplanters, and drum seeders, which can reduce operational costs, save time, and increase productivity compared with traditional farming methods. These technologies are […]

The Quezon Codcod RiceBIS Farmers’ Agriculture Cooperative (QUECORIFACO) in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on March 19 received a P5.2 million equipment grant to support its expanding agribusiness ventures.  The Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation (BPIF), Inc. is equipping the organization with enterprise machines that include a truck and a rice mill, which will enhance their transport and production necessities. “QueCoRiFACo currently comprises five associations with plans to expand […]

Antique farmers have achieved a 1t/ha-increase in yield by using the certified inbred seeds distributed by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program.  Previously, farmers relied on home-saved seeds yielding 2-3t/ha. With RCEF certified inbred seeds, yields have increased to 4-5t/ha. Antique’s implementation of RCEF operations and extension services has earned it the excellence award for the best province during the RCEF Seed and Extension Annual Review held in […]

The Rice and Corn Seed Growers Association (RICOSGA) in Negros Oriental has reactivated its operations after receiving support from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program. RICOSGA chair Ariel Capilla said that the once inactive seed growers’ organization was faced with challenges such as low membership, limited funds, and lack of seed procurement. With the help of PhilRice and other partner agencies, […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program is reaching 80,000 more farmers in Visayas with the inclusion of four new provinces in the program this wet season. According to RCEF Coordinator Rojen F. Austria, the program’s new partners include the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Cebu, and Bohol, which incorporation resulted in an increase of certified inbred rice seeds allocation from 340,634 to 474,792 for the Western and Central Visayas. […]

Farmers in two Aklan towns are grateful as they can now receive their seeds faster and easier through Binhi e-Padala, a digital voucher system used in distributing free certified inbred rice seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed Program. Through the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Negros, Binhi e-Padala was recently launched in the towns of Ibajay and Makato. NSIC Rc 216 […]