DA-Agricultural Training Institute and DA-PhilRice Bicol recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Rice Business Innovation System (RiceBIS).  The system is intended to introduce new ideas, workflows, and methodologies or services in rice production and business.  Despite the onset of COVID-19 pandemic last year and a 2,175ha (2.5%) reduction in the harvest area in the first semester of 2020, palay production in the region attained a 10.74% increase in […]

DA-PhilRice Midsayap graced the ceremonial distribution of inbred rice seeds to farmers during the 2nd Founding Anniversary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Jan. 12. Senior development staffer Ommal H. Abdulkadil said the gesture is a testament to the steadfast partnership of the station and the BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform in support of the region’s rice industry. For the 2021 wet season, qualified […]

Agriculture Sec. William D. Dar affirms Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, former executive director of Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), as new assistant secretary in an oath taking ceremony in Quezon City, Jan. 8. Sebastian, who was PhilRice executive director from July 2000 until July 2008, was also designated as undersecretary and chief of staff of the agriculture department. Leading PhilRice, Sebastian strengthened and mobilized the national […]

The continuous global upsurge of Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) and its variants has led government institutions like DA-PhilRice to adopt stringent protocols to prevent its spread. Executive Director John C. de Leon issued  guidelines under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Modified ECQ (MECQ), and General CQ (GCQ) in memorandums issued in 2020. Highlights of the guidelines focus on the use of the main entrance gate, DA-PhilRice Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative (PEMCO) […]

Over 236,000 farmers across the country are benefitting from the 1.2 million bags of certified inbred seeds released to local government units by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program on its third season of implementation. “PhilRice in partnership with provincial and municipal LGUs have been working non-stop despite the pandemic restrictions to deliver and distribute the certified inbred seed requirements of farmers listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors […]

The National Cooperative Test (NCT) approved the release of the country’s first high temperature-tolerant rice varieties developed by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). After passing NCT, the varieties, which will be named NSIC Rc 600 and Rc 602, will be approved and registered by the National Seed Industry Council for commercialization. Seeds will be available in two or three planting seasons. Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas and Dr. […]

About 60,000 copies of primer and leaflets were received by the farm schools and farm organizations under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) in Region 2 and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR). Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in San Mateo, Isabela reached 38 farm schools through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and 26 farmer-organizations. Recipients received PalayCheck System primers and Gabay sa Makabagong […]

PalaySikatan – a technology demonstration farm by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program provided a venue for farmers in the Bicol Region to know more about modern rice production. “I learned the proper way of cultivating rice through PalaySikatan. I used to immediately spray pesticide on my crop at the sight of insects. Now, I first check whether the insects are beneficial or harmful to my crop, and whether […]

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) lauds the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) for having the highest number of active scientists in the Scientific Career System (SCS). In the recent oath-taking ceremony of newly conferred and upgraded scientists, DOST Secretary Dr. Fortunato T. Dela Peña commends PhilRice after three of its experts landed in this year’s ranking. “[With 12 scientists — nine Scientist I and three Scientist II], […]

These holidays, a food scientist in the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) urged the public to patronize locally-grown rice as it is safe and of good quality. In a webinar aired on the Institute’s social media page, Dr. Marissa V. Romero shared a study comparing pesticide use in rice farms in the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. “The study shows that Filipino farmers use less pesticide,” she said. […]