Rice farmers tend to change variety every cropping season. Jesus Nibres, 65, of Davao Del Norte considers many factors before trying and planting a specific variety. With almost four decades of experience in rice production, Mang Jesus is keen on recommending varieties. For him, a variety has to be high-yielding, resilient, and resistant to major pests and diseases. All these and more are the characteristics found in Mestiso 20 (M20), […]

With limited personnel at PhilRice’s satellite station in Samar, Riena D. Namoc has learned how to do various tasks and mastered the art of transitioning from one work to another.

German Pangilinan, 60, of Santo Rosario, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija experienced farming success with NSIC Rc 160, a rice variety developed by PhilRice. But success was not easy for this farmer for 35 years.  Mang German started farming his half hectare farm after graduating from Agricultural Engineering.  Due to diligence and perseverance, he was able to increase his farm into two hectares. “There are times when unfortunate circumstances happen like calamities […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) mourns the passing of its founding father, former Senator Edgardo Javier Angara, one of the country’s greatest statesmen. PhilRice records show that then UP System President Angara in early 1985 convened and led the committee that brainstormed the idea of establishing a national rice research center. “I think the Philippines took for granted the need to have our own research on rice because IRRI […]

Soil degradation is a quiet crisis; it exists but it is barely noticed as it happens slowly. With the current population of the world, which is about 7.3 billion and may reach up to 11 billion by 2050, the more frequent utilization of soil for food production is seen to degrade soil quality. According to Dr. Rattan Lal, soil scientist from Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, Ohio State University, soil […]

Written by Dr. Reynante L. Ordonio   As we aim for food security, producing enough, affordable, and accessible foods for consumers is our battlecry. More to this is to ensure that these foods are of high quality, safe, and nutritious. Not only quantity but also quality A combination of different agricultural technologies and strategies has to be explored and utilized to achieve food security. Among these technologies, perhaps the most […]

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, agriculture committee chair, urged rice farmers to use quality rice seeds and farm machineries to earn good income and become competitive in the local and international market. “[Trade liberalization compels us to be more competitive as agricultural crops such as rice from other countries will easily be available in the market]. To compete [with other rice-producing countries such as Vietnam], you have to reduce production cost. […]

It’s fascinating to find people who are well-versed in different aspects or those that are referred to as ‘jack-of-all-trades’. But what if this trait is applicable not only to humans, but also to rice? Thanks to the breeding team headed by Ms. Thelma F. Padolina, a retired breeder of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). Through their efforts, NSIC Rc 216, a rice variety that works like a jack-of-all-trades, is […]

Carmelita Guttierez, 64, manages a half-hectare rice field.  By planting NSIC Rc  222, she is one of many who has found joy and achieved success in farming, but like everyone else, her story is a fusion of good and bad days in the field. “We face many challenges every season like occurrences of pests and diseases, which result in low yield. Our farm is not that wide so there were […]