El Niño may have brought the threat of dry spells and water scarcity, but the farmers’ resilience has risen to the occasion. Rather than succumbing to adversity, they have embraced the challenge as an opportunity to learn new techniques and innovative practices to combat the phenomenon’s effects while getting additional income. By practicing a water-saving technology called Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), farmers in Gabaldon, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP) is intensifying its efforts to enhance the skills of trainers from learning sites and farm schools in the Ilocos Region.  Nonilon I. Martin, RCEF extension focal, said they are expanding their outreach to include more trainers, aiming to strengthen their capacity to assist farmers in addressing field challenges and adopting mechanized operations in rice production. “We aim to encourage […]

A local rice farmers’ group in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, has secured a business deal with a non-government organization (NGO) that provides disaster relief, with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). In an agreement, St. Vincent Parish Multipurpose Cooperative (SVPMPC) will supply 6,000 bags (25kg/bag) of well-milled rice to the People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network, Inc. (PDRRN). The coop has already delivered […]

Rice farmers in Libungan, Cotabato recently adopted the Binhi e-Padala System, a digital platform designed to enhance the distribution of certified seeds under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program.  The Binhi e-Padala System operates by sending eligible beneficiaries a unique claim code via text message or QR code. The farmers then present this code when collecting their seeds. This approach promises to streamline the seed distribution process, ensuring […]

Farmers in Lanao del Norte who had previously abandoned rice farming due to significant yield losses are now looking forward to improved harvests, thanks to the efforts of a graduate from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Service Program (RCEF RESP). Queenie R. Notario, owner of a farm school in Bacolod, has begun planning outreach to these farmers.  “My mission is to restore their faith in rice farming. I […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program has produced 575 new rice specialists through the Rice Specialists Training Course (RSTC) from 2019-2023 to help the rice farmers compete in the international rice market. Lea dR. Abaoag, training component lead of the RCEF Rice Extension Services Program at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), said the RSTC program is a comprehensive course designed to develop trainer-leaders. From the original RSTC curriculum, new […]

Before, there was boredom. Now, pure excitement fills Daniel V. Pineda as he embarks on a journey of continuous learning and growth after participating in the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) training. A “lost son” in agriculture, Daniel, who is from Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, only pursued agriculture to fulfill his mother’s dream. His mother was employed in the municipal agriculture office in Gabaldon while his father was a farmer. Upon […]

Farmers trying out a walk-behind mechanical transplanter for the first time are amazed by its derived savings and efficiency.  Jobani King Zacarias, a farmer-cooperator from Infanta, Quezon, who recently tried the machine, shared that he typically spends P4,000 on labor to manually transplant half a hectare of crops. However, with the mechanical transplanter, he cut his expenses nearly in half, spending only P2,600.  “It is also highly efficient. Before, I […]

Grace Pastrana, a 25-year-old agricultural technologist from the Occidental Mindoro provincial agriculture office, is now a proud farmer-partner in improving the rice growers’ sustainable practices. Having completed the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Specialist Training Course (RCEF RSTC), Grace now serves as a valuable resource speaker, facilitator, and advocate for ecological farming practices in her province. The RCEF RSTC is a comprehensive training program that aims to develop rice specialists […]

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 […]