Maguindanao rice farmers were impressed by the efficiency and precision of the drone seeder introduced at a PalaySikatan site in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Aug. 20. “I was amazed! It’s beyond my expectation that it can broadcast seed over 1 hectare in just 15 minutes. It’s time-saving and reduces production costs for labor and seed,” said 32-year-old farmer Norly A. Odin. “We thought drones were only for military use. Now, my […]

Amid a decline in the number of young Filipinos entering rice farming, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has launched new initiatives to spark interest in agriculture among students.  By involving the youth aged 10-12 in planting the Institute’s rice paddy art this wet season and by establishing a new compact site called RiceSpark, Dr. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, DA-PhilRice deputy executive director for development, emphasized the importance […]

With the increasing advocacy to educate the youth about agriculture, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and Kiwanis International-Philippine Luzon District unveiled a compact educational campsite called RICEsParK, established to help cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders. The initiative, launched today, seeks to inspire young “RICEponsible” leaders who are aware of the challenges faced by Filipino farmers and the importance of rice and rice science to the […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the RCEF Extension Program have recently been targeted in a deceptive marketing ploy involving the creation of fake accounts.  Since Aug. 2, two pages have surfaced online falsely representing these public institution and government program, promoting a product called “Super Seed Organic Fertilizer” and misleading the public.  The fake pages falsely claim that Dr. Emil Q. Javier, a national scientist, endorsed the fertilizer […]

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently appointed the executive director of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and its new Board of Trustees members. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. swears in Dr. John C. de Leon for his second term as PhilRice executive director on July 30 as the country seeks to boost rice production and support farmers. During his five-year term, de Leon focused not only on science […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has issued a warning to rice farmers to closely monitor their fields for major pests, particularly as the wet season exacerbates pest attacks. This caution comes from findings by the Pest Risk Identification and Management (PRIME) Project, a key initiative under the Department of Agriculture aimed at safeguarding crops and preventing significant yield losses. Leonardo V. Marquez, a PhilRice crop protection expert, emphasized the […]

Through the adoption of a web-based decision-support tool, farmers in Tarlac have demonstrated the potential of digital agriculture services to transform traditional farming practice.  Sixty-four farmers in the villages of Sembrano and San Bartolome revitalized 101.5ha, significantly improving their yields and reducing costs through the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS) introduced via the Scalable, Modern, and Adoptive Rice ICM Technologies for Increased Yield and Reduced Production Cost (SMART-ICM) Protocol. […]

Rice farmers in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija will benefit from two newly enacted ordinances designed to help them adapt to drought conditions and incorporate digital tools into their farming practices. The ordinances aim to promote agriculture-based and institutional drought adaptation strategies through suitable extension efforts and optimize the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) by engaging the youth to assist rice farmers. With climate change increasing the frequency of droughts, […]

Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) communities in Tiaong, Quezon, are poised to be the first suppliers of pigmented rice products, including white rice, at the UPLB Techno Hub One-Stop-Shop (UPLB THOSS). In a recent showcase event led by Gregorio Garde, president of the Sintorisan-Behia SWISA Farmers Association, Tiaong RiceBIS communities presented their products to officials from UPLB THOSS, the University of the Philippines Los Baños Business Affairs Office, UPLB Alumni […]

The Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) community in Batac City, Ilocos Norte celebrated a significant boost to their agro-enterprise efforts through Senator Bong Go’s Malasakit sa Kooperatiba Program, in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority.  Among the beneficiaries, the Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative received a PhP50,000 grant, empowering them to enhance agricultural productivity and economic sustainability. Cooperative members also participated in an orientation on business continuity management, equipping them with […]