The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Program is ensuring the supply of certified inbred rice seeds in Region VI by training field workers. The recent three-day training implemented by DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Negros Occidental, covered essential practices, including field inspections, hands-on exercises, and in-depth discussions on the PalayCheck System. The Bureau of Plant Industry provided sessions on seed certification policies and quality assurance, ensuring participants are well-versed in […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP) has trained thousands of farmers in Regions 6 and 7 involving farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer approach, where farmer-trainers share their learnings with fellow farmers in their communities. The program targets farmer-leaders who can easily convene meetings and influence their peers to adopt new agricultural technologies. The leaders have also established or assumed roles in farmer associations or cooperatives, bringing more […]

To address soaring prices of fertilizers and optimize its application, RCEF Seed Program has introduced sets of fertilizer recommendations to its partner local government units in Western and Central Visayas. These recommendations were derived from a thorough soil analysis conducted by PhilRice using the Minus-One-Element Technique (MOET) kit and app.  The app facilitates farmers in obtaining answers to queries regarding the appropriate fertilizer type and optimal application timing. Implementing MOET-based […]

PhilRice Negros recently awarded local government units with excellent performance during the 2023 wet season implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Extension programs.  Selection was based on their actual distribution percentage compared to their delivery rate. This assessment considered syncing the physical inventory with the RCEF-Seed Monitoring System and LGU participation during deliberations. LGUs that fully cooperated with the syncing process were commended for their crucial […]

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental extended financial grant to the RiceBIS Negros Agrarian Reform Cooperative (RiceBISNARCO) for its entrepreneurial engagements. Through the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program that aims to connect farmers to institutional buyers, RiceBISNARCO received PhP250,000 in which 80% of the amount will be used as capital for palay buying. Moreover, 20% of the grant will be allocated in management skills training, seminars, and workshops on bookkeeping and […]

Envisioning a fully mechanized farming, an efficient seed processing facility, and a thriving community of experts, Negros Branch Director Leo T. Sta. Ines believes that the station has a promising future as he expressed during his speech in the branch’s celebration program on July 31. PhilRice Negros being the sixth home of the Institute, celebrated its 20th anniversary with the theme: “Unite and celebrate the two decades of existence.” Negros […]

A graduate of a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) training is on a mission to help transform community practices, believing that it is time for the farmers to embrace changes that will improve their harvest and encourage the youth to engage in agriculture. “It concerns me that the majority of our fellow rice farmers in the community are getting older. We, the youth, have to step forward and live up […]

A recent study has proven that rice grown with azolla between its rows can yield 4-5.3t/ha at a production cost of only P3.84/kg after continuous incorporation. Azolla is an aquatic fern that hosts Anabaena azollea cyanobacteria, which convert nitrogen into ammonia that nourishes rice plants when incorporated into the soil. Cielo Luz Mondejar-Bello, a member of the Negros station-based research team, said they tested azolla as the source of nutrients […]

The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) cited the progress achieved by Negros farmers during the 2nd Site Working Group (SWG) meeting of the Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Negros Community in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Sep. 22. RiceBIS created a “pilot-test development model for community transformation that is participatory, market-driven, and supported by a scientific production base to improve the competitiveness of rice-based farming communities.” This […]

A crop health training aimed at improving the Negros team’s pest monitoring and data collection process was conducted by the CES-based Pest Risk Identification and Management (PRIME) team on June 29. The PRIME project sets up monitoring fields where collected data are sent to a Web App that gives out alerts in case of increased pest incidences. Negros station has 30 crop health monitoring fields at present.