Written by Mervalyn G Oplas   Should Filipinos be scared of buying rice laced with heavy metals? Study results on the increase of levels of the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium and lead in rice have already alarmed rice eaters around the world just recently. The arsenic scare that started in November 2012, followed by lead and cadmium in April and May 2013, were attributed to contamination from the environment. These […]

Written by Maritha C Manubay   “The world is losing its capability of feeding itself,” said Dr. Ricardo Orge, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Director for Climate Change. Philippines and Japan are two different countries (in terms of people, culture, economy, and geography, among others), but they have one thing in common; they both strive for 100% food self-sufficiency. According to Dr. Mikio Umeda, Japan’s revered scientist, the independence and […]

Written by Maritha Manubay   The breathtaking site of the Ifugao highlands seems to exude hope for the country to attain rice self-sufficiency. Despite the promise of its vast terraces, highland farmers are constrained by cultural orientation of planting traditional rice varieties and practicing old-fashioned cultural management.  Thus, the choice between varieties that yields high but with low price or yields more but with high price remains a struggle. Aiming […]

Written by Coxiela L Cabrera   Rice prices are quite expensive. Do we have a cheaper but healthy alternative? A corn expert said mixing rice and corn is an option. It has long been known that rice is a good source of energy for the body. Most Filipinos cannot let a day pass without eating rice; it’s part of local culture to eat rice three times a day. In developing […]

Written by the Web Team   When Benigno Aquino III was proclaimed the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, one of the major objectives he set or proclaimed is for the country to become rice self-sufficient by the end of 2013. Some sectors thought that was an “impossible dream” but the Aquino administration strongly believed that rice self-sufficiency can be achieved at the end of this year. President […]

Written by Alfred Franco T Caballero   Many people will swear to love one spouse in their lifetime but Alfredo Roble swears he will love hybrid rice even in his next life. “Mamatay man ako at mabuhay uli, hybrid pa din ang itatanim ko!”was Roble’s impassioned words during his presentation during the 1st National Hybrid Rice Congress at the Philippine Rice Research Institute in Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva […]

Written by Charisma Love B Gado   Ernesto Romero, 76, of Talavera, Nueva Ecija owns a Mercedez Benz, 6-hectare residential lot, and a warehouse with an P11,000 annual mortgage. During the peak of market demands for vegetables, such as green pepper, he earns P200,000 a week. About 23 km from Romero`s town lives Crisanto lleva, 59 years old. He had built his P50,000-house in Guimba, Nueva Ecija and earns P80,000 […]

Mechanization and hybrid rice can deliver a debilitating one-two punch that will stun farming ordeals. First punch: the use of machines contributes to precision farming and helps farmers to be more efficient in their activities. Second punch: hybrid rice increases yields by 15% resulting in higher profitability and productivity. Just like in boxing, preparation before a match is crucial. Seed production becomes critical. Hybrid seed is produced from two parents […]

Written by Joy Bartolome A Duldulao   Gem Corpuz, my creative and meticulous colleague at the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division, came running to me one Monday morning to tell me good news. She enthusiastically started. “You know, of course, that last week we went to Ilagan City, Isabela for the consumer evaluation of upland rice entries of the NCT (National Cooperative Testing) and we stayed for three days […]

Written by Charisma Love B Gado   There are far memories worth recalling. They enkindle inspiration especially when the country is zealous in achieving its most elusive dream – to be rice-self-sufficient. Old records attest that in 1789, Pampanga exported 28,307 piculs (some 34,000 cavans) of rice with the de facto opening of Manila’s port to world trade. More recently, through Green Revolution campaign, the country attained rice self-sufficiency in […]