The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has successfully established 173 out of 180 trial sites nationwide for its Variety Field Trials (VFT), a key step toward selecting improved rice varieties that will be distributed to farmers starting the 2027 wet season. Conducted under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, the VFT is testing 15 inbred rice varieties across 78 provinces to ensure seeds are suited to […]

Across the island provinces of Romblon, Marinduque, and Palawan, the arrival of certified rice seeds was once marked by waiting—waiting at ports, waiting through inspections, and waiting under the sun as shipments from faraway provinces slowly made their way to farmers’ fields. Each delay carried a cost, and each journey put seed quality at risk. For the Strengthening Seed Growers’ Cooperatives and Associations (SSGCA) project team of the Rice Competitiveness […]

More than 500 seed growers nationwide attended the first Seed Growers’ Cooperatives and Associations (SGCA) General Assembly organized by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program. Held in Nueva Ecija, Iloilo, and Davao from April to May, the assembly assessed the performance of SGCAs engaged in Phase 1 of the RCEF Seed Program, defined policies for the program’s second phase, and shared best practices among seed growers. “This is […]