Darkness starts to engulf the remaining light of the day but the rustles have not slowed down a bit inside the Pinagbuklod na Adhika Multipurpose Cooperative (PNAMC) facility in Macarse, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. The last sack of palay was poured into the brown rice milling machine. Several women can be seen filling plastic bags labeled “Macarse Brown Rice”. In a transformed food system that is gender-responsive, opportunities are given to […]

This harvest season, Rolando C. San Gabriel, retired agriculturist and now a seed grower, achieved a good harvest through continuous learning. “Though I may know about rice farming more than other farmers because of my profession, I still look for opportunities to learn because I believe that as I gain knowledge, I can achieve better results,” the 70-year-old farmer said. San Gabriel harvested 18 cavans of NSIC Rc 508 (57kg […]

Information on genetic makeup of Philippine rice varieties can now be accessed by breeders and researchers from different countries through the Global Information System (GLIS) portal of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The ITPGRFA aims to facilitate the exchange of information on scientific, technical, and environmental matters related to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture based on existing information systems through GLIS. […]

Researchers from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) iterate that 40kg of high-quality rice seeds are sufficient to plant a 1-ha field. Studies show that most farmers in the country use 80-160kg of rice seeds per hectare thinking that sowing more seeds results in high yield. “For inbred rice, we  recommend 20-40kg only for transplanted (TPR) and 60-80kg  for direct wet seeded (DWSR),” Marvin Manalang, senior science research […]

Two scientists of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) were recognized for their significant contributions in enriching the body of knowledge on rice science. Dr. Reynante L. Ordonio, Scientist I, was distinguished as the 2021 Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) in the field of Agricultural Science by the National Academy of Science and Technology. Ordonio, 40, joined PhilRice in 2004 as a researcher who specializes in molecular breeding. His works […]

Amidst looming crisis, experts from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) advise farmers to avoid excessive water use. “Studies show that by 2025, it is estimated that 15-20M ha of irrigated rice fields in the world will experience water shortage,” Kristine S. Pascual, DA-PhilRice’s senior science research specialist, said. She shared that 1,400L or 7 drums of water can be conserved in the production of 1kg of rice […]

The rice farms of Alex Audencial, 56, in Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija have been producing high palay yields since 2020. This season, he profited P70,000 from his less than a hectare-farm, which he credits to good farming practices that include strict farm monitoring. “Religiously monitoring the field is very important in rice farming. It is the key to attending to the needs of the rice crops at the right time,” […]

The National Rice Technology Forum’s (NRTF) hybrid rice demonstration site in Cauayan, Isabela is estimated to hit the highest yield this quarter. In a report by Dr. Santiago R. Obien, Department of Agriculture’s (DA) senior technical adviser, he presented crop cut yield data showing that eight of the hybrid rice varieties in the NRTF demonstration site will hit the highest yield of 15.6t/ha (dry weight) this harvest season. “Crop cutting […]

There is strength in togetherness. This line proves true in the journey toward success of Balangibang Palayamanan Farmers Incorporated (BPFI). When consecutive setbacks confronted them, members of this farmers’ association in Polangui, Albay dared to find opportunities in the midst of difficulties. It started with hunger to learn BPFI members started from participating in a farmer field school in 2010. “We started as a group of farmers who wanted to […]

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is set to develop a rice data warehouse that will be accessible to the public, especially the decision and policy making bodies at different government levels for decision and policy formulation. Nehemiah L. Caballong, project proponent, said that the PhilRice Data Analytics Initiative Project (RiceLytics) aims to enhance baselining and forecasting of status of rice farmers and the rice industry in the […]