Written by Ella Lois T Bestil   In the rainfed area in Tabtabungao, La Union, rice yield increased amid water crisis. Fields lack supplemental irrigation; yet, farmers attained 4 t/ha – thanks to Aerobic Rice Technology (ART).  The yield is a feat, as farmers used to harvest 2-2.5 t/ha. ART is a cropping system that uses less water than the traditional practice, which takes about 3,000-5,000 l of water to […]

Written by Andrei B Lanuza   From a rice breeder’s perspective, field trials are crucial in determining and testing the different traits of a new rice variety, either produced via traditional methods or through modern biotechnology. Some agronomic characteristics that are often determined during field tests include pest and disease resistance, and climate tolerance. Field trials are essential in determining the adaptability of any rice variety under development for local […]

Written by the Web Team   Availability of information on improved rice farming may no longer be an issue, but access to information posed challenges. With the wealth of information on rice farming available on the websites of the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and other attached agencies, farmers could optimize rice farming if they are connected to the Internet. However, most of them are not connected […]

Written by the Web Team   The farming circle has probably reached the tipping point where the word “irrigation” is almost synonymous to pulling off wads of cash. Not in anyone’s wildest imagination could it be equated to being low cost. But then, that is probably why we need to imagine further. Irrigation can be low cost as the PhilRice researchers based in Batac, Ilocos Norte would prove. With the […]

Written by Charisma Love B Gado   Asia has one of the highest prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in the world with 33.5 percent pre-school children affected. In the Philippines and Bangladesh, four out of every ten children aged 6 months to 5 years and two in every ten pre-school children, respectively, are estimated to be vitamin A-deficient. With what statistics insist, mothers like Ma. Cecilia Anama, 34, from Tanza, […]

Written by Charisma Love B Gado   Grain drying technologies are important for many agriculture sub-sectors. The renewed emphasis to sustainability, eco-friendliness and integration in grain farming has led towards considerable progress in the development of these technologies to help farmers and stakeholders enhance product quality and reduce costs. Regional Manager Jeffrey Tu of Taiwan-based Suncue International Marketing said, “By recognizing the significance of integrating this technology to the production […]

Written by Alfred Franco T Caballero   These days, farmers in Tabuc, Kalinga are getting high on hybrid rice. One among them is Michael Lumas-i. Like the proverbial early bird, he is one of the firsts to reap the benefits from hybrid rice. In fact, his success with hybrid rice is reflected in his being the recipient of the first ever Gawad Saka Outstanding Hybrid Rice Farmer Award. Lumas-i started […]

Written by the Web Team   Numerous studies and tests show that biotechnology and its products, specifically crops being grown and studied in the Philippines, are safe and helpful to humans. These products are not dangerous. They are, in fact, developed to reduce cost, improve quality, and reduce environmental damage due to input-intensive conventional cropping systems. In the forum Straight from the scientists: the facts about delayed ripening papaya, Bt […]