Following a devastating accident that not only cost him his arm but also tragically claimed his son’s life, Zaldy C. Salvacion of La Fortuna, Veruela, Agusan del Sur, showcased an inspiring display of resilience. He returned to rice farming, becoming a beacon of strength for his community.  Through his unwavering determination and with the support of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, he not only led his community […]

Decision-making is made easy as rice-related information is right at our fingertips. Thanks to ICT and digital technologies! Information and communications technology (ICT) and digital technologies pave the way for anticipatory decision-making and action for our policymakers, researchers, development workers, and rice farmers. The Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM), Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS), and Oryza Germplasm Management System (GEMS) are just among the decision-making tools available. With the […]

Nightmares of drought are still vivid in the mind of Nestor Mendoza. At midnight, they are wide awake, watching their fellow farmers from the downstream of the M’lang and Malasila Rivers Irrigation System (MMRIS) march up to avail of their right to farm water, even in darkness. “When rain is elusive, water supply is not enough for those who are at the tail end of the irrigation,” this member from […]

Drought has always been an intense foe of Faustino Medina, a rice farmer from Barangay Bantug, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. This enemy always left him with low yield – a deep, painful wound for his pockets and their household table. His story represents most Philippine farming communities whose main staple and source of livelihood is rice. During an El Niño phenomenon, rice production is most challenging as it […]

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 personal calling is God’s blessing.  For Cesar Tolentino, farmer and partner-seed grower of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, he believes that his calling is to help fellow farmers achieve abundant harvest through better farm practices. This calling is a divine blessing that centers around the use of high-quality seeds. Cesar, former chair of the municipal committee on agriculture, in Surallah, South Cotabato, underwent RCEF training in […]

Farmer-graduates of the LPJ3D’s Integrated Farm School are possibly one of the happiest farmers in Quirino. It’s easy to see why. Jane Laguna, one of the Farmer Field School’s graduates, increased her yield by 50 sacks after using the certified inbred seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program and following the PalayCheck taught in the LPJ3D’s Integrated Farm School. Owned by Diosdado “Sir Dado” Estocapio Jr., the […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Rice Extension Services Program has actively involved the younger generation in agriculture, including Joseph Mantatao from Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. “I have enjoyed helping my parents on the farm since I was 16 years old. I’m now managing our 0.6-ha rice field after my mother’s demise. I’m grateful that RCEF is helping me become a better farmer,” the 23-year-old rice grower said. In the […]

A mobile application was developed to provide timely, reliable, and collaborative information on palay farmgate prices. The Bantay Palay app works by collecting current palay price data from verified providers, analyzing, and processing them into a text message advisory that is sent to rice farmers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. App developer Arturo Arocena of PhilRice said verified providers of price data include palay buyer […]

Farmers are more inclined to adopt new practices when they are introduced by fellow rice growers.  Higenio Cuento, a graduate of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Rice Extension Services Program training in 2019, observes this as he trains fellow tillers in the Masaganang Bukid Farm in Nagcarlan, Laguna. Cuento observed that farmer-participants were eager to learn about the technologies promoted by RCEF in Farmer Field School (FFS); however, not all […]