The  rice paddy art of Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte was unveiled Sept. 6 showcasing the merging of cultural heritage and sustainable farming practices,  A collaboration between Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC),  Mariano Marcos State University, and Philippine Rice Research Institute, the rice paddy art was created using traditional IR 1552 purple rice and high-yield NSIC Rc 222 variety. A first for INAC, the artwork featured in […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has facilitated the collaborations between clustered farmer groups and their potential private sector clients with high hopes of sustaining the alliances. The clustered farm groups include Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Community Negros Agrarian Reform Cooperative (NARCO) in Negros Occidental and the RiceBIS Castillejos Farmers Agriculture Cooperative in Zambales. The NARCO clustered farmer-members, who were previously trained by […]

Studies conducted by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) researchers were recognized as best scientific posters during the 27th Federation of Plant Science Association of the Philippines, Inc. (FPSAP) Scientific Conference held in Palawan, Aug. 27-Sept. 1. With the theme “Innovative plant solutions for a sustainable and climate-smart agriculture,” the conference cited five PhilRice researches as best poster; two, second place; and three, third place.  Study titled, “Evaluation of genetic diversity […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP) has responded to the information needs of farmers in Adams – the smallest town in Ilocos Norte. According to Nonilon Martin, RCEF extension focal, the town’s rice growers led by Municipal Agriculturist Clarita Tigui-ing, requested the program implementers in Batac City, Ilocos Norte to help them increase their yield currently at almost 4t/ha. The province’s average yield is almost […]

The rice market nationwide is undergoing a surge in palay prices, reaching P25/kg based on data from the Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). From July 31 to Aug. 6, the average price of fresh palay stood at P17.83/kg while dry palay commanded P19.33 benefitting the early planters this 2023 wet season. In June, the peak price of dry palay per kilogram reached P25 […]

Gains from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program continue as it reaches more than one million rice farmers across the country through its inbred rice certified seed delivery and distribution activities. Data from the RCEF Rice Seed Monitoring System showed that 11,952,883 bags of certified seeds were distributed to the farmers from its launch on Sept. 16, 2019 to March 15 this year. The distribution covers seven seasons […]

A New Zealand-based organization and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) recently commended the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for placing inclusivity at the core of its internal and external services. The Center for Organizational Excellence Research (COER) in early August recognized PhilRice’s gender and development (GAD) mainstreaming as an outstanding international best practice under the social responsibility category among 82 worldwide contenders.  COER, an organization dedicated to benchmarking and […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has been honored with the “2023 Asia’s Best Employer Brand” at the 18th Employer Branding Awards conducted in Singapore, Aug. 17. The award, presented by the Employer Branding Institute, recognizes Asian organizations that excel in enhancing employee satisfaction, engagement, talent development, innovative talent practices, and retention. In her acceptance speech, Sophia T. Borja, PhilRice deputy executive director for Administrative Services and Finance, emphasized the […]

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, cited the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP) during its midyear review in Nueva Ecija, Aug. 10. “The team of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has [significantly] contributed in achieving the goals of the Rice Tariffication Law [of helping the farmers become competitive amidst the influx of rice from the international market],” […]

Government agencies “converge, cooperate, and coordinate” in their commitment to support the Masagana Rice Industry Development Plan, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed in May to implement.  In the recent convergence meeting held in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp, and Land Bank of the Philippines have pledged to prioritize financial aid to rice farm clusters, especially in their engagement in […]