More than 2000 farmers and farmers’ associations, government entities, and the agricultural machinery private sector gathered at the 2011  Agri-Mach Roadshow, dubbed Makina-Saka on July 4-7 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. The activity aimed to showcase agricultural machinery and drum up support for the mechanization program of the Department of Agriculture, in support of the country’s bid for food self-sufficiency. The Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) was launched […]

Written by the Web Team   Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – An official of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) toured around this city, Aug. 14-17, to learn how their country could start producing rice and reduce agricultural imports. “Micronesia, particularly in Pohnpei, has so many natural resources. We need to maximize these resources for consumption, and to start reducing importation such as rice from other countries,” Shelten […]

Written by the Web Team   Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) recently signed an agreement with ENERTIME, a France-based company, to assess the feasibility of using rice straw for power generation, which could help farmers reduce production cost. “The cost of petroleum is increasing. So it’s important to develop a new energy system that will serve as an alternative to the non-renewable, highly centralized, and not diversified system. The exact […]

Written by the Web Team   An airtight, reusable plastic bag that protects stored rice from moisture, pests, and rats, and keeps rice seeds viable, is now available to Filipino farmers in selected retails stores. IRRI Super Bags reduce losses incurred after harvest that usually stem from poor storage conditions – helping prevent physical postharvest losses that can be around 15%. On top of these losses, farmers also experience loss […]

Written by the Web Team   The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) supports the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in encouraging Filipinos to eat more vegetables through week-long activities conducted in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija, July 23 to 27. “There is a need for a more balanced diet. [There must be] moderation in everything,” said Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director, as he opened the Nutrition Month Seminar […]

Written by the Web Team   The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) had awarded Dr. Dindo Agustin A. Tabanao, a plant breeder at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), as 2012 Outstanding Young Scientist in the field of Applied Plant Sciences during its 34th Annual Scientific Conference, July 12. Tabanao, program leader of PhilRice’s Developing Technologies to Surpass the Dry Season Irrigated Lowland Rice Yield Plateau, was cited for […]

Written by the Web Team   Rice consumers concerned about reports that rice is linked to diabetes can rest assured that rice can be part of a healthy diet, with scientists finding that the glycemic index (GI) of rice varies a lot from one type of rice to another, with most varieties scoring a low to medium GI. The findings of the research, which analyzed 235 types of rice from […]

Written by the Web Team   Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead agency in rice research and development, is calling on scientists, researchers, and thesis students to avail of the Institute’s research fellowship program. Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director, said the program aims to provide career growth opportunities while helping the country achieve rice self-sufficiency. Research proposals fostering rice science for improved productivity and profitability […]

Written by the Web Team   PhilRice management and staff had entered into a new Collective Negotiations Agreement (CNA), which aims to boost employees’ welfare and improve the workplace. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr, PhilRice executive director, and Aurora M. Corales, Association of PhilRice Employees (APE) president, agreed on the third CNA after deliberations on six new articles and 49 new or improved sections formulated by the Workplace Consultative Council and […]

Written by the Web Team   An alternative farm technique that could help reduce rice production cost is benefitting farmers in three agrarian reform communities in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. No-tillage technology or preparing the field without plowing or harrowing had lessened land preparation time and expenses of farmer-cooperators in Dimasalang Sur, Brgy. Homestead II, and San Ricardo. In a Farmers’ Field Day and Forum in Brgy. Dimasalang Sur and Homestead, […]