The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) urges farmers to follow the recommended seeding rate in rice production for better yields and reduced production cost. Seeding rate refers to the amount of rice seeds planted per hectare. DA-PhilRice recommends 40kg per hectare for transplanted rice while 60-80kg per hectare is promoted for direct-seeded. “When this is followed, rice plants grow healthier because it can receive sufficient sunlight […]

Farmers whose irrigation is at the tail end of the National Irrigation Administration’s water supply system may benefit from a water management technique promoted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-PhilRice). Fredierick Saludez, DA-PhilRice agriculturist, said that the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology, with the aid of an observation well, can help reduce irrigation water consumption without lowering rice yield. Observation wells are used […]

ROSARIO, LA UNION – Farmer-beneficiaries of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program are happy with the Binhi e-Padala system, a digitally-aided seed distribution mechanism established for faster and easier seed distribution. In this system, select farmers are informed through a text message about their schedule for receiving seeds, their claim codes, and details about their seed allocation. Jayson Albay, one of the farmer-beneficiaries, said it is convenient for farmers […]

Finally, a rice that is infused with vitamin A will soon be served on the tables of Filipino households. After almost two decades of painstaking research and regulatory review, Golden Rice has fully satisfied all biosafety regulatory requirements in the Philippines. The biosafety permit for commercial propagation issued in July 2021 was the final stage of regulatory approval, which means that Golden Rice may now be planted on farmer’s fields […]

Seed growers from Masbate and Leyte are thankful for their recent organizational management and leadership training, as this will help revive and strengthen their associations. Nonoy Dela Cruz, chairperson of Masbate Seed Growers’ Association (MSGA), said that the training, which was conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program, will help their association in rebuilding the once booming seed industry […]

In pursuit of a more gender-inclusive rice industry, research and development workers of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) are undergoing a Gender Analysis Training (GAT). The training, which runs from March until May, was designed to help staff analyze and understand how women and men and their social relations are affected and will be affected by the Institution’s operations, programs, projects, and activities. This is in adherence […]

Brgy. Bacsay, Luna, Apayao – Hybrid rice seeds will be available here soon following the graduation of 24 farmers, April 6, from a training on hybrid rice commercialization and hybrid rice production and certification. The training activities are based on the PalayCheck system, emphasizing the use of nutrient management decision support tools such as the Rice Crop Manager (RCM) and Minus-one Element Technique (MOET). “This is part of our efforts […]

TAGUDIN, ILOCOS SUR – For the country to attain increased rice output in the coming years, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Batac recently trained 28 farmer-leaders and agriculture technicians to use decision support tools in crop management. During the training, farmers and agriculture technicians learned the use of Minus-One Element Technique (MOET) and ICT-based tools and apps such as MOET, Leaf Color Chart, and Rice Crop […]

Farmers could save P2,000-P4,000 if they complement inorganic fertilizer application with organic, nutrient experts from the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. Wilfredo B. Collado, a nutrient management expert from DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute, said that farmers must maximize the benefits of natural sources of nutrients. “One hundred cavans of palay (5t-yield) produces 5t of rice straw. If this is incorporated into the soil and decomposed, it can produce 30kg N, […]

Farmers in San Rafael, Bulacan have pledged to practice the farming technologies and recommendations introduced during their almost four-month training in a Farmer Field School (FSS) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Extension Services Program. Janine Viola, top farmer graduate, said that the learning and the time they spent in the FFS could be rewarded with high yield. “I gained knowledge in Agroecosystem Analysis (AESA), nutrient management, and […]