As one of the pilot provinces identified with high cases of malnutrition, Catanduanes is now ready to produce and distribute Malusog Rice. The beta carotene-enriched rice was established in San Andres and Virac this dry season with an expected harvest of 26t in 4.82ha in May 2023. Harvested Malusog (Golden) Rice will be dispersed using the program-based buyback system approach, in which the National Food Authority (NFA) will purchase the […]

Learning gaps in rice production technologies will soon be addressed in certain Mindanao regions through a communication needs assessment (CNA) to be conducted with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).  OIC Branch Director Ommal Abdulkadil of DA-PhilRice Midsayap said that the CNA results will guide the two organizations in delivering timely and harmonized communication and extension services. Representatives from the irrigators’ associations in Regions 9, 12, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region […]

To provide access to latest science-based information on rice research for development to the academic community, particularly in State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), DA-PhilRice, spearheaded by the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Development (DED-D), is now partnering with local SUCs. The Institute has tied up with UP Los Baños and launched the “Rice Science and Technology (S&T) Webinar Series,” which consists of seven episodes focusing on critical rice […]

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 […]