Amidst the rising price of fertilizer in the country, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) will promote the use of balanced fertilizer during this dry season Lakbay Palay, April 6-7. Together with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Agricultural Training Institute, and Agriculture and Fisheries Information Services, DA’s campaign “Abonong swak (Swak sa budget, swak sa palay),” will be launched to urge farmers to complement inorganic fertilizer […]

Adding a vertical garden in a rice-based farming system augments sources of income; an established setup in thePalayamanan 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 to […]

Fifteen new inbred rice varieties were approved for commercial release in December 2021 by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC). Eight among these are PhilRice-bred: three for irrigated lowland (NSIC Rc 622, Rc 624, and Rc 626,) and five special-purpose pigmented non-glutinous (NSIC Rc 638 SR, Rc 640 SR, Rc 642 SR, Rc 644 SR, and Rc 646 SR). The other seven are IRRI-bred: five are for irrigated lowland (NSIC […]

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 […]

The local government of Nueva Ecija is the first province in the country to enact an ordinance on the truthful labeling of rice based on the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Policy Research and Advocacy teams. The ordinance requires rice retailers to indicate valid, reliable, and complete information about the prescribed milling classification, price, and source of rice […]

With the recent reports on swarms of rice black bugs (RBB) seen in parts of Regions II and III, Genaro S. Rillon, crop protection expert from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), explained that the insects are migrating populations looking for food, habitat, and places to lay their eggs. RBB is a sap-feeding insect that attacks rice plants in almost all stages of growth. It is most destructive […]

Agriculture Sec. William D. Dar urged agriculture officials to break from traditionalism, especially in implementing programs, during the department’s recent management committee meeting held at DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).  “The old way of doing things just doesn’t cut it anymore. Moving to the realm of pragmatism, I acknowledge the time constraints; however, implementation is the name of the game. The strategies we set in motion must be delivered with […]

Farmer-beneficiaries of the “Sa Palay at Gulay – May Ani, Hanapbuhay, Oportunidad, at Nutrisyon” (PAG-AHON) II Project in Lupao, Nueva Ecija are now selling their produce in a bigger market. Henry V. Ramos, president of Lupao Vegetable Growers Association (LVGA), said during the PAG-AHON harvest festival, Nov.13, that the project taught and assisted them in marketing their own produce. “We dreamed of becoming entrepreneurs, and it came true because of […]

Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas, scientist II and chief research science specialist at Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), was recognized as the 2021 Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year in a virtual awards ceremony, Nov.15.  The scientist is one of the 35 Outstanding Professional of the Year awardees recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Foundation of the Outstanding Professionals, Inc. He was distinguished for his contributions in […]

Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey, DA-PhilRice Deputy Executive Director for Special Concerns, is one of this year’s Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees recognized on Nov. 15 in a virtual ceremony where President Rodrigo Duterte bestowed the awards. Dr. Bordey, who has been in government service for 21 years, is a distinguished economist, policy advocate, and rice research for development practitioner. She currently serves as the head of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund […]