Farmers in Tulunan, North Cotabato are reaping the benefits of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, which has improved the town’s practice of certified inbred seed leading to increased yield.  Farmer Roel P. Lapating attested to the positive changes brought about by the RCEF Seed Program.  “Because of the RCEF certified inbred seeds, our harvest has soared to 4.4-6t/ha. As long as we have access to resources for […]

A local rice farmers’ group in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, has secured a business deal with a non-government organization (NGO) that provides disaster relief, with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). In an agreement, St. Vincent Parish Multipurpose Cooperative (SVPMPC) will supply 6,000 bags (25kg/bag) of well-milled rice to the People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network, Inc. (PDRRN). The coop has already delivered […]

Farmers in San Agustin, Zambales expressed interest in adopting a walk-behind mechanical transplanter shown in a recent techno demo conducted by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program. The farm machine not only reduces labor expenses, typically requiring a team of 2-3 laborers, but it also enables farmers to plant one hectare per day. Data show that this shift reduced the expenses of hiring 13 laborers at P400 each […]

Rice farmers from Brgy. Cawag, Subic, Zambales, have enthusiastically adopted the use of the seed spreader, a machine introduced to them through the PalaySikatan technology demonstration, for direct seeding.  PalaySikatan is a key project of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, which aims to introduce modern and recommended rice varieties, practices, and technologies to farmers. Virgilio Sabado, one of the techno-demo cooperators, expressed his satisfaction with the seed […]

Farmers from the outskirts of San Marcelino, Zambales have reported significant gains in rice farming after becoming recipients of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program.  Cristito Ancheta, 44, said his yield doubled as a result of using the certified seeds he received from the program. “I was surprised that my harvest jumped from 3t/ha to 6t/ha. I sold half of it and earned a gross income of around […]

To further understand their situation and determine the specific needs of farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) for capacity development, assistance, and support, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program started conducting in June-July focused group discussions (FGD) with 120 identified FCAs nationwide. The results were assessed and validated by the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech). Fifty Luzon-based FCAs have gone through the FGD led by DA-PhilRice, with […]