A short drive from the highway along San Antonio Weste in Lupao, Nueva Ecija is a field teeming with vegetables ready for harvest. Beside it is another field from which rice was freshly harvested. One would not think that these were barren seven months ago. Aila G. Grospe, farm owner, recalls that the 1.3-ha farm has been abandoned for 15 years since her father passed away. The sudden twist of […]

Fulfillment in service. This is one of the driving forces for many youngsters to start a career in the government. While many start with this motivation, only a few stay and finish strong.  For Architect Renato Bajit and Dr. Caesar Joventino M. Tado, starting to work with DA-PhilRice in 1987 and 1997, respectively, was a “rare opportunity to serve the [Filipino] people.”  From scratch  As Bajit looks back, being one […]

Adding a vertical garden in a rice-based farming system augments sources of income; an established setup in the Palayamanan farm of the  Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) showed. Dr. Marissa V. Romero, lead of PhilRice’s project Modernized rice-based farming systems and value-adding technologies, said that integrating vertical garden in Palayamanan increases sources of food and income and enhances resiliency. Palayamanan integrates diverse crops and livestock in a farm […]

When they lost their jobs because of the pandemic, licensed massage therapist Aila Grospe and her business consultant-husband Pierangelo Alejo were faced with the challenge to look for new sources of income.  Remembering her family’s 1.3-ha farm, which they did not till for 15 years since her father passed away, Aila convinced her husband to try their hands in farming. With their two children, they decided to leave Alabang, Muntinlupa […]

Planetary health diet or the consumption of more plant and less meat for better human and planetary health, was underscored in a webinar hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in celebration of this year’s nutrition month. Dr. Renzo R. Guinto, director of the Planetary and Global Health Program of St. Luke’s Medical Center, explained that overconsumption of red meat raises cancer risks, and its production contributes to around […]

When they lost their jobs because of the pandemic, licensed massage therapist Aila Grospe and her business consultant-husband Pierangelo Alejo were faced with the challenge to look for new sources of income. Remembering her family’s 1.3-ha farm, which they did not till for 15 years since her father passed away, Aila convinced her husband to try their hands in farming. With their two children, they decided to leave Alabang, Muntinlupa […]

Dr. Riza G. Abilgos-Ramos, nutritionist and supervising science research specialist at the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), was conferred the Scientist I rank by the Scientific Career Council of the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Science and Technology, April 22. Dr. Abilgos-Ramos, through her research works, has developed complementary food and beverage from rice and locally-available, nutrient-dense, and low-cost crops designed for malnourished older infants, pre-school […]

Information on the Philippine rice industry situation and the characteristics of the Filipino rice farmers are now publicly accessible on the Rice Data Analytics (RiceLytics) website developed by DA-PhilRice. “RiceLytics is a public rice data analytics that aims to aid decision and policy-making bodies at different government levels,” Nehemiah L. Caballong, ICT specialist and project proponent, said. The website presents data on rice area, production, yield per hectare, characteristics of […]

Sri Lankan rice research and extension officers, and subject matter specialists are being trained online on the PalayCheck System for irrigated lowland rice. PalayCheckis an integrated crop management system for transplanted and direct wet-seeded irrigated lowland rice farming. It promotes localization of relevant technologies and crop management options through collaborative and experiential group learning with farmers to improve productivity and profitability in an environment-friendly manner. In partnership with the Department […]

Farmers could save P2,000-P4,000 if they complement inorganic fertilizer application with organic, nutrient experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. Wilfredo B. Collado, a nutrient management expert from DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute, said that farmers must maximize the benefits of natural sources of nutrients. “One hundred cavans of palay (5t-yield) produces 5t of rice straw. If this is incorporated into the soil and decomposed, it can produce 30kg N, […]