Practices and technologies that can help farmers save around P23,000 in rice production will be showcased in the Lakbay Palay hosted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Sept. 14-15. With the theme, “Bukid Tipid Tips, Subukan!” the two-day event will highlight the use of certified seeds of recommended varieties, mechanized farming, and rice-based technologies such as Palayamanan – an integrated farming system, vertical tower garden, and drip-irrigated […]

Trainee-graduates of a recent Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) training who are mostly arm school trainers vowed to be at the frontlines in helping the farmers improve their yield and income through shared learning. In the recent graduation of 34 participants in the training of trainees (TOT), rice specialist Rictor Fortaleza said that the two-week activity has equipped them in educating farmers on modern farm production.  “We went through this […]

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte are featured in a rice paddy art established on Aug. 16 at the FutureRice Farm in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. To be visible after a month, the paddy art is planted with PSB Rc 10 and the traditional purple rice. Attendees in the Lakbay Palay being organized by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) will have […]

Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed Program farmer-beneficiaries in Region I reported that the free certified inbred seeds given to them significantly increased rice yield. Elvira Licudine, 68, from Bacnotan La Union, shared that her family was only harvesting 60 sacks of rice. However, when they became RCEF beneficiaries, their harvest had increased from 60 to 100 sacks.  “In spite of typhoon and water shortage in the previous cropping […]

The DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Extension programs is currently developing location-specific fertilizer recommendations to help local farmers maximize their resources amid high fertilizer costs. “Farmers’ resources have now become more limited because of high fertilizer costs. Meanwhile, current practices show that if farmers continue to apply fertilizers that are not appropriate to crop needs, their resources are wasted, and yields […]

Romeo Ferrer, 65, and Florante De Luna, 50, from Gumaca, Quezon used to spend a lot of time and money to transplant the one-hectare land they each owned. But when they began using mechanical transplanters, things started to change for the better. They have been religiously following the recommended practices and technologies they learned through their engagement as farmer-cooperators of the PalaySikatan technology demonstration last 2021 wet season. They are […]

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) of the Department of Agriculture – the country’s lead agency of rice research and development, was introduced in an international market during a recent three-day online sale spearheaded by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on E-commerce. Chona Narvadez, PhilRice sales and promotions supervisor, said that the “ASEAN online sale has strengthened the institute’s reputation as a legitimate e-commerce merchant in the Philippines.” In the region-wide activity, […]

Planetary health diet or the consumption of more plant and less meat for better human and planetary health, was underscored in a webinar hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in celebration of this year’s nutrition month. Dr. Renzo R. Guinto, director of the Planetary and Global Health Program of St. Luke’s Medical Center, explained that overconsumption of red meat raises cancer risks, and its production contributes to around […]

Three years after its maiden implementation, more than 10 million bags of certified seeds were distributed to about one million farmers from the 42 target provinces under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Estimates also show that rice areas planted with RCEF seeds reach 1.5 million hectares yearly. As of July, 1.57 million bags were distributed to more than 630,000 farmers in 731 cities and municipalities, with an estimated area […]

With the importance of high-quality seed and its accessibility in achieving rice sufficiency, Department of Agriculture (DA) recently launched an information system that will hasten rice seed-related transactions and processes. The system, developed by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), include production planning, field data collection, documentation, and geotagging; monitoring, inventory, and distribution of seed reserve; seed source tracing; application and approval of accreditation and […]