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 […]

Farmers are thankful to the provincial government of Nueva Ecija as it continues to buy palay from them through its Palay Price Support Program (PPSP). The program is being implemented by the Provincial Food Council (PFC), which was formed by Gov. Aurelio M. Umali in 2019. DA-PhilRice is a PFC member. Normita Carreon, farmer-beneficiary from Laur, expressed her gratitude because she was able to sell her dry season palay harvest […]

Officials and farmers have commended the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) for leading the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program and co-implementing the RCEF-Extension Program. In her opening statement during the Program’s Midyear Review and Assessment on Aug. 4-6, Sen. Cynthia Villar said the Institute has done what is essential in serving the rice farmers. “PhilRice was able to deliver high-quality inbred rice seeds, conduct extension work, and […]

The local government units (LGUs) in the Bicol Region under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program are all set in providing farmers with certified rice seeds and knowledge critical on rice production. Romela Montesinay, municipal agriculturist of Malilipot, Albay, said their LGU is boosting its training and extension programs for the farmers, which include the technical briefing conducted during RCEF seed distribution. Recently, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research […]

To ensure high-quality and enough seeds of hybrid rice, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has been training seed growers in Region II and CAR since June this year. Ending in October, four batches of season-long training and two batches of retooling on hybrid rice seed production and certification were lined-up. The trainees, who are expected to lead the production of public hybrid rice seeds in their areas, […]

With DA-BPI’s release of the final biosafety approval, Golden Rice is now cleared for commercial propagation. Science City of Muñoz, Philippines — Filipino rice consumers are close to benefiting from a Vitamin A-infused rice with the approval of its commercial propagation permit. Dr. John C. de Leon, executive director of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), announced that a biosafety permit for propagating the Golden Rice has been […]

As the country celebrates this year’s nutrition month, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) iterates the importance of consuming healthy and nutritious rice. To promote healthier rice, the Institute will serve brown or unpolished rice in its cafeteria for free every Monday of July. “Brown rice is nutritionally superior to white or polished rice as it has more fiber, protein, vitamin E, B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin), and […]