The Department of Agriculture’s information system based on satellite data and ground observations is helping the Philippines monitor rice production and prepare for and mitigate the effects of disasters such as typhoons and El Niño to rice areas. The Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) project highlighted the key features and importance of this innovation during its first annual executive meeting at the Bay View Park Hotel in Manila, March 31. […]

A PhilRice study is developing breeding lines that can produce high yielding drought-tolerant rice varieties based on root traits to improve upland rice production. Rainfed upland areas can poorly accumulate water because of uneven slope location, absence of bunds, and lower water- holding capacity of the soil. “The plan is to let the rice plant have the ability to avoid dehydration, basically, to access whatever water source there is through […]

Researchers at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) found that a certain bacteria enhances growth, root development, and grain yield of upland rice varieties. The study, Exploring the potential of plant growth promoting actinomycetes to enhance upland rice production, led by Jayvee A. Cruz evaluated the effectiveness of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in enhancing the growth and yield of upland rice. PGPB is recognized in agriculture in reducing the use […]

A new rice seed processing facility was established at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz to help farmers and seed growers in neighboring provinces have an access to high-quality seeds. These seeds have high seedling vigor, meaning, they have a good survival rate and root anchorage, which leads to a higher yield advantage. The facility worth more than $2 M is funded by the […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is making the rice seeds more accessible to farmers through Lakbay Binhi, a project that brings high quality and location-specific seeds through trucks converted into mobile seed centers. The project was pilot-tested in three sites affected by typhoon Lando. On 4-9 December, 82 bags of 20-kg registered seeds were given to over a hundred farmers of Dipaculao and Casiguran in Aurora and Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Rhemilyn […]