Farmers in remote areas in Isabela and Abra are now producing their own high-quality seeds based on their learning from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program. “We used to struggle in acquiring seeds, and we cannot attain our [desired] yield from exchange seeds. Through this learning activity, we are not only farmers but also seed growers of high-quality seeds that can be easily accessed in our locality,” farmer Saldy […]

The public sector is ensuring enough supply of rice seeds amidst pandemic through a series of training conducted in hybrid rice-producing regions. Dr. Fidel M. Ramos, senior science research specialist of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in Isabela, said the activities complement the DA’s Hybrid Rice Program. Currently, four batches with 150 seed growers are trained in Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan, and Kalinga from June to October […]

Farm machines developed by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) are now more accessible with the signing of licensing agreement with an Isabela-based fabrication shop, Sept. 21. In the non-exclusive license agreement, ACT Machineries and Metal Craft Corporation will manufacture and commercialize the handtractor-drawn multipurpose seeder (MPS) and ride-on buoyant tiller. MPS is used for dryland seeding of rice, corn, and mungbean. Through MPS, farmers can finish planting […]

A mutation gene that may help rice plants survive despite adverse conditions has been identified by a balik scientist fellow hosted by DA-PhilRice. Dr. Nonawin Lucob-Agustin, together with other researchers from Nagoya University in Japan, discovered the wavy root elongation growth 1 (weg1) gene, which may help rice cope with drought especially in rainfed lowlands where water is scarce. The scientist explained that the gene was identified from mutants of […]

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon recently agreed to continue collaborating for better rice research for development (R4D) programs. Working together since 2001, the parties recently renewed their partnership on developing and promoting rice and rice-based technologies until 2033.  Under the new 13-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), DA-PhilRice and CMU will continue collaborating on producing high-quality rice seeds and implementing […]

Fifty RICs were launched in farm schools and organizations in Region 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) during the first semester of the year. Under the Rice Development Initiatives for Cagayan Valley and CAR Environments project, over 1,000 copies of magazines, handouts, and booklets were delivered to beneficiaries. The handouts are expected to help trainees in farm schools increase their knowledge on modern technology and innovative farming methods.   Project beneficiaries […]

Intercropping Azolla with rice can help lessen farmers’ fertilizer expenses in rice production in irrigated areas, a research by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) showed. Azolla, a fern that thrives in freshwater, maintains a symbiotic relationship with the blue-green algae, Anabaena azollae. The algae provide nitrogen (N) to the fern and the fern provides a habitat for the algae. This symbiosis allows the conversion of nitrogen into ammonia, which can […]

More Filipino consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of low-glycemic index (GI) rice according to a study by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) on consumers’ awareness, behavior, and knowledge of rice and rice-based products. “Results of our study showed that majority of our respondents from all 17 regions in the country had high level of awareness on GI,” Riza G. Abilgos-Ramos, supervising science research specialist […]

The recent commercial propagation approval of Golden Rice was lauded by global experts as an indicator of the Philippines’ leadership role in agricultural biotechnology in the ASEAN region. The country’s pioneering path began in 1990 with the establishment of its first biosafety policy and was further strengthened by Administrative Order No. 8, Series of 2002 (AO8), which opened the pathways for “local agriculture to benefit from the safe and responsible […]

Agriculture Secretary and UN Food Security Systems national convenor, Dr. William D. Dar, has urged the public and private sectors to partner with his Department in achieving sustainable food systems in the country. “Beyond food production, food systems also comprise processing, distribution, preparation, consumption, the market and institutional networks for governance, and the socio-economic and environmental outcomes of these activities,” he said in his speech during the National Food Systems […]