Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) branch station in Ligao City, Albay has released 450 bags of free high-quality inbred seeds in Sto. Domingo as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed Program kicks off its distribution activities this wet season in the Bicol Region. More than 700 rice farmers have received certified inbred seeds of recommended rice varieties such as NSIC Rc 222, Rc 216, and Rc 402, which […]

The rice farms of Alex Audencial, 56, in Maligaya, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija have been producing high palay yields since 2020. This season, he profited P70,000 from his less than a hectare-farm, which he credits to good farming practices that include strict farm monitoring. “Religiously monitoring the field is very important in rice farming. It is the key to attending to the needs of the rice crops at the right time,” […]

Learning to improve rice production is now made more fun and interactive with the recent launch of a digital campaign dubbed “Palaywakin ang Galing: yunPALAYun” to promote the technologies and services of  the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP). Dr. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, vice chair of the RCEF- RESP Technical Working Group, said that the campaign name – a word play of palay and palawakin (expand), signifies the RCEF-RESP’s purpose […]

Implementers of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed program have started to roll out certified inbred seeds to early planters in the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Region II. The program, which is expected to benefit more than 74,000 rice farmers in four provinces, has already distributed over 7,000 bags to early planters in Nueva Vizcaya. As part of seed distribution, farmers were briefed on modern rice farming practices […]

Around 100 farmers from Datu Paglas, Maguindanao were enrolled in the PhilRice Text Center (PTC), May 14. The PTC promotion activity was conducted during the RCEF seed distribution and technical briefing. The farmers actively participated in the interactive activity where the purpose and registration process of the PTC was explained. The local officials also welcomed the activity as the whole Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is still in […]

Golden Rice, a type of rice that contains beta-carotene (a source of vitamin A), is now in the final stage of biosafety regulatory assessments. Once it gets the permit for commercial propagation anytime soon, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) will be preparing for its deployment initially on a pilot scale in areas where malnutrition, especially vitamin A deficiency, is high. Now, the question that people ask is: […]

Mestiso 20 (M20), a public hybrid rice variety previously not favored in Buenavista, Quezon, is yielding good harvest both in seed production and F1 cultivation. As M20 seeds come from Mindanao, the municipality is engaged in hybrid rice seed production since last quarter of 2020 to ensure the variety’s accessibility. “The favorable result of the two-line hybrid rice seed production trial in Buenavista is such an achievement. We have no […]

Local government units have acknowledged the contribution of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed-Program on increasing rice yield in their locality. Jose Maria R. Zubiri Jr., Bukidnon governor, said the program has helped in the development of the rice industry in their province. For two years, he said that the free certified seeds from RCEF has assisted farmers in coping with the effects of the Rice Tariffication Law. In […]

The provincial local government unit of Tarlac expressed their satisfaction with the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program for three consecutive seasons. During the recent briefing on the Department of Agriculture (DA) integrated rice programs conducted in the province, Dr. Alicia Cruz, provincial agriculturist said the program has significantly contributed to the increased yield and improved access to certified inbred seeds of rice farmers in Tarlac, from […]

Few months after a techno demo, adoption of two-wheeled lightweight machine for direct seeding known as plastic drumseeder had increased to 200% in Libungan, Cotabato. From seven rice farmers who participated in a 2020 wet season techno demo, 21 farmers have established their crops using plastic drumseeder this 2021 dry season. The machine was developed and promoted by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). Victorino Dumanig, […]