Scientists and plant breeders from 11 countries recently agreed to pursue joint research on climate-resilient crop varieties as rice and other food crops face increasing risks from drought, flooding, salinity, and emerging diseases. The agreement was reached during the 2026 Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia Mutation Breeding Workshop, hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the Science […]

Irrigation personnel are being trained to respond to rice farming concerns as farmers increasingly ask them not only about water delivery but also about seeds, fertilizer, pests, diseases, and crop management. Through a partnership between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), NIA personnel were trained on the PalayCheck System to help them provide more practical support to rice farmers in the field. Ruel V. […]

The Philippines has completed Korea-supported upgrades in seed processing, storage, and digital inventory systems aimed at improving the quality of rice seeds and strengthening the monitoring of rice stocks for distribution and buffer supply. The improvements were implemented through the project “Improving the Rice Supply Chain to Ensure Quality of Seeds and Milled Rice for Distribution and Buffer Stock in the Philippines,” a collaboration involving the Philippine government, the Republic […]

A farmers’ cooperative in Batac, Ilocos Norte is turning locally grown brown rice into a ready-to-eat snack, creating a new market for its harvest while promoting healthier rice-based products. Sales of the Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative’s brown rice krispies increased from nearly PhP23,000 in 2023 to more than PhP130,000 in 2025, making it the group’s best-selling value-added product. The cooperative, supported by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Batac, […]

A high-zinc rice cultivated in Ilocos Norte produced yield nearly twice the national average, as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) helps the country look for alternatives that can complement efforts to address child stunting and micronutrient deficiency. In Brgy. Sta. Cecilia, San Nicolas, farmer Ricky A. de Guzman harvested 8.14 t/ha from NSIC Rc 648, also known as Zinc Rice 2, which was higher than the 4.07 t/ha national […]

Filipino farmers are set to benefit from a major update to the government’s seed program, designed to help them grow more profitable crops starting the 2027 wet season.   The Department of Agriculture (DA) realigned the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund  (RCEF) Seed Program to better balance the need for high-yield harvests with the growing consumer demand for quality, softer-textured rice. “Our goal is to provide recommendations that truly address what our […]

Farmers’ Cooperative and Associations (FCAs) in Lupon, Davao Oriental will help distribute certified inbred seeds under Binhi e-Padala (BeP) 2.0, a move expected to bring seed delivery closer to farmers and ease local agriculture offices’ workload.  The rollout under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program was discussed during a recent technical briefing in Mati City, Davao Oriental.  Judith G. Dagpin, municipal rice coordinator of Lupon, said the upgraded […]

Farmer cooperatives supported by the Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) of the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have secured more than PhP128 million worth of rice supply contracts with local government units (LGUs) through Republic Act No. 11321, or the Sagip Saka Act. The contracts cover rice supplies for food assistance, subsidy, and social welfare programs in several provinces, providing participating cooperatives and farmers with more stable markets and better […]

Simple habits at home, from cooking only enough rice to turning leftovers into new meals, topped a public video challenge on reducing rice wastage as the country continues to lose rice enough to feed millions of families each year.  The “Iwas Rice Aksaya Video Challenge” under the Be RICEponsible Campaign of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) featured winning videos that highlighted practical household and dining habits to reduce rice […]

Local government units (LGUs) that posted the highest performance in delivering certified seeds to farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program were recognized during the recent National Assembly of City and Municipal Agriculture Offices. Forty-seven city and municipal LGUs and eight provincial LGUs received excellence awards for their performance during the 2025 wet season and 2026 dry season program implementation. The awardees included provincial LGUs from Oriental […]