Rayuray Brown Rice, a brand assisted by DA-PhilRice Batac, gained better-than-expected sales from 1.75 tons to 10t, sold at P60/kg in just two months. Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (RFAC) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte reported a jump in sales from PhP16,000 in 2021 to PhP200,000 in 2022, in which the 10t-sales were achieved in August and September. “The significant increase came from the intensified promotion of consumption of brown rice. […]

To find alternative methods for controlling pests, researchers from DA-PhilRice Agusan evaluated the effectiveness of insect-killing fungi in managing rice pests. The study, “On-Farm Evaluation on Entomopathogenic Fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. for the Management of Rice Bug in Agusan del Norte” compared the potential of the fungi with farmers’ conventional insecticide application against brown plant hopper, rice bug, and rice black bug. According to researcher Belen Tabudlong, the use […]

More than 100 tons fresh paddy of beta carotene-enriched Malusog Rice have been harvested this wet season in 17 pioneer production sites across the country. The first harvest will be milled for distribution in target households with pre-school children identified at-risk for vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and undernutrition, as well as pregnant and lactating mothers. Grateful for the harvest, Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao said that Malusog Rice can be one […]

A farmer in Brgy. Pandan, Castilla, Sorsogon used available materials in his house in assembling a plastic drum seeder –  a machine that plants rice. With the rising cost of rice production, Ernesto Apuli improvised the drum seeder through wheels from an old bike and metal frames from an old jeepney. Apuli learned about the machine in a technical briefing conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). […]

Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) laid its draft strategic plan for 2023-2028 during the 34th Ugnay Palay: National Rice Research for Development (R4D) Conference, Dec. 7. The institute stakeholders agreed to implement the following banner programs: Rice Seed Systems 2.0, Scaling Modern and Adaptive Rice Technologies toward Prosperous Farming Communities (SMART Farm), and Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) 2.0. Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey, deputy executive director for special […]

Through the DA-PhilRice Batac Farm Wise project’s localized weather updates and advisories, farmers in Region 1 have improved their farm decision-making, which resulted in good crop stands. The project generates localized weather forecasts and crop advisories, and delivers them to the farmers. The 10-day localized weather outlook from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is categorized per municipality for Ilocos Norte/Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. Data are […]

DA-PhilRice Isabela harvested Golden Rice, now officially called Malusog Rice, in October to November in Cagayan Valley. Isabela farmers who are active partners in the program are delighted to have been part of a momentous event. Seed growers and farmer cooperatives have expressed their excitement over the on-going propagation of Malusog Rice, which they hope to be available soon for commercialization. “After harvesting, I want to plant it again, but […]

A study, which identified knowledge hotspots in Indonesia and the Philippines, ranked the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) as the third most prolific rice research-producing institution in the two countries.  Screening and retrieving articles published from 2001 to 2021 on various topics and questions surrounding rice research, the recently published article, Two decades of rice research in Indonesia and the Philippines: A systematic review and research […]

Farmers in Davao Oriental and Butuan City have increased their harvests through seed and training interventions from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Ramil Doronila, rice farmer from Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, increased the yield in his 1.5ha from almost 4t/ha to more than 5t/ha. For three seasons, he planted NSIC Rc 480, Rc 506, and Rc 216, which he received from the RCEF Seed Program. These varieties are also […]

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – Students vowed to be “RICEponsible” in a National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) event for kids held at Maligaya Elementary School, Nov. 25. The activity aimed to mold children not to waste rice and appreciate farmers’ hard work through creative presentations and by giving kid-friendly knowledge products about rice such as the “PalayKulayan” coloring book. “This event is wonderful for instilling the lessons related […]