written by Sonny P. Pasiona   “Why should we offer half rice? We barely mind rice wastage. What matters more is we get more sales with full rice.” In a rice-loving country, these words are what some food establishments would argue why they refuse to offer half-cup of rice in their menus. But in the tuna capital of the Philippines, the local government is turning tables to promote a responsible […]

Two development communication practitioners wrote their book review on Youth & Agriculture: The Infomediary Campaign in the Philippines launched at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna, July 13. In a matter of 3-4 hr, the new book Youth & Agriculture: The Infomediary Campaign in the Philippines can help readers realize that young people, when empowered, can help create impacts in […]

A well-prepared land gives farmers a head start for the entire planting season. When it comes to tilling the soil, they must start with the basics. Experts at the Philippines Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) say that proper land preparation provides a soil condition favorable for plant growth. It promotes good physical, chemical, and biological environment for better and efficient crop growth and development. It also facilitates good management of water, […]

What happened to your crops? “Failure.” With those painfully heavy word, Mangansakan T. Kasan, 68, described the miserable fate of his rice crops brought by the inescapable El Niño.   Fallen yield Kasan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao is one of the farmers severely affected by this natural phenomenon. At his two-hectare farm, his normal harvest of 280 bags of rice were trimmed down to 125, barely enough to pay for […]

Micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger refers to vitamin and mineral deficiencies affecting people of all ages and gender regardless of socioeconomic status.

In broad-daylight January 2015, the weather was stunningly fine, the air was soothingly fresh, and the mountains exuded a breath-taking sight as he was transplanting his delicate, young rice seedlings on his field. A week after, however, dark clouds slowly shrouded the mountains, heavy rains poured, and strong winds battered his recovering plants. Typhoon Amang came and harassed his hope for a bountiful harvest. “Nalumural ako” (I felt devastated), farmer […]

What could be more challenging than farming at the top of a mountain? Some farms in Claveria, Misamis Oriental do just that. Farmers here tend plants in steep slopes with erosion-prone and acidic soils while rainfall serves as main source of water. But these obstacles do not bother them. Their ally? The trees – which are beneficial to rice and other crops.   Myth about trees Some farmers think that […]

Hardly predictable and extreme weather changes can often spell disaster for the uninformed and unprepared. This holds particularly true for Filipino farmers and agriculture-based enterprises where losses due to long periods of drought, violent typhoons, or major shifts in weather condition can be devastating to an entity’s supply chain, livelihoods, and the country’s food security.   Molding climate change-conscious agriculture entrepreneurs Taking notice of the impact of climate change (CC) […]

Deaths, vanishing islands, floods, droughts, and all the horrors that could possibly happen in our world have already been reported or at least been associated to climate change (CC). In agriculture, its impacts can be massive from heating among animals to remarkable yield loss in highly significant crops like rice. All these maladies are happening at a time when the world population, according to the UN, approaches 9.6B in 2050—more […]

In a world of doubts and uncertainties, anticipating risks can lead to readiness – a ticket to survival. The current situation of the agriculture sector on climate change mitigation and adaptation necessitates preparedness. Knowing what is to come in the production-and-consumption equation helps ensure enough food for the people despite resurgent challenges in the given growing environment. Efforts are in place to capacitate institutions to aptly inform policymakers on climate […]