National agencies and local governments are intensifying efforts to improve rice productivity and farmer income through season-long, science-based training. In Ligao City, 30 farmers from multiple barangays began a Farmer Field School led by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the city government. The school promotes the PalayCheck System—a set of best practices covering seeds, land prep, crop establishment, nutrients, water, pests, and […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP) will distribute information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to 35,000 farmers in four provinces this dry season. Technology calendar, handouts on rice farming-related mobile apps, and brochure on direct-seeded rice production, will be given to farmers in Northern and Eastern Samar, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes. To be distributed along with the free certified inbred seeds from the RCEF Seed […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program has reached three provinces covered by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Bicol as local authorities gear up for an extensive distribution of certified inbred rice seeds this 2023 wet season. Under the allocation plan, Northern Samar is slated to receive 11,227 bags of certified seeds while  Eastern Samar will be provided with 11,347 bags. Leyte will benefit from a substantial allocation […]

In Ligao City, Albay, Vera Shane Dy Placides is living her childhood dream of serving Filipino farmers as a local agriculture technician in the city agriculture office.  Her commitment to her dream led her to engage in training programs, including the training of trainers on the production of inbred rice, seed certification, and farm mechanization, as well as the Rice Specialist Training Course under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund  Rice […]

A farmer in Brgy. Pandan, Castilla, Sorsogon used available materials in his house in assembling a plastic drum seeder –  a machine that plants rice. With the rising cost of rice production, Ernesto Apuli improvised the drum seeder through wheels from an old bike and metal frames from an old jeepney. Apuli learned about the machine in a technical briefing conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). […]

Students from the Philippine Science High School (Pisay)–Bicol Region Campus were encouraged to become #BeRICEponsible advocates during their visit to DA-PhilRice Bicol, Nov. 17. They were urged not to waste a single grain of rice and appreciate rice farmers by means of thanking and valuing the food they provide to Filipinos. “I promised to become more RICEponsible in consuming rice as it is not easy to grow it,” said Leira […]

Confident Bicol rice specialists. Finishing off their three-month Rice Specialists Training Course (RSTC), the 28 rice specialists taught by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Ligao, Albay, said they are now ready to help improve farmers’ competitiveness. According to Benjie Rance, the training under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, has equipped him with essential knowledge. The training was conducted from June 6 to Oct. 21 at DA-PhilRice […]