Rice growers in a farm tour conducted by Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) reported that the activity served as an eye opener in improving their field practices. Dubbed Lakbay Palay, the activity showcased technologies from variety selection until mechanization, which some 600 Luzon farmers learned in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on Sept. 14-15. “In a hectare, we use 8-10 sacks of seeds because we thought that […]

From the maiden implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program in 2020 dry season (DS) to 2022 DS, Isabela station of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), with the help of its partner Local Government Units (LGUs), continues to provide certified inbred seeds to rice farmers.  For this 2022 wet season, the station was allocated 152,740 bags of inbred certified seeds for Cagayan […]

Zambales rice farmers expressed positive feedback on the use of direct seeding machineries such as plastic drum seeder and ride-on precision seeder shown in a field day and forum held in Sta. Cruz, Zambales, Sept. 19. According to farmer Juanito Medida, he likes the plastic drum seeder’s precise depth and spacing. With the use of drum seeder, rice grains are seeded in straight rows allowing mechanical weeding in between rows. […]

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, […]