Amidst looming crisis, experts from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) advise farmers to avoid excessive water use. “Studies show that by 2025, it is estimated that 15-20M ha of irrigated rice fields in the world will experience water shortage,” Kristine S. Pascual, DA-PhilRice’s senior science research specialist, said. She shared that 1,400L or 7 drums of water can be conserved in the production of 1kg of rice […]

Farmers may now claim their free certified inbred rice seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed Program through the digital Binhi e-Padala system. In the Binhi e-Padala system, the Institute sends an SMS to a farmer’s validated mobile number indicating his/her name, allocation, pick-up point, and assigned schedule. Farmers may select at least three preferred varieties based on recommended national and regional varieties. Partner seed grower cooperatives and […]

Following success in establishing a farmers’ cooperative in Murcia, Negros Occidental, Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) based here is expanding its assistance on business entrepreneurship to two municipalities. Anileen Pajarillo, station lead of Rice Business Innovation System (RiceBIS) program, said that about 200 farmers in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and Canalon City, Negros Oriental are attending trainings on rice production and agri-enterprise following strict health protocol. According […]

Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga Del Sur have received 162,000 bags of certified inbred seeds, a 138% increase from last year’s 63,000 bags distributed under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Seed Program. The higher allocation is mainly due to a more focused target in 42 provinces under the RCEF-Seed Program, as part of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Integrated Rice Program initiative to provide strategic interventions based on the […]

Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) calls on local government units to pass ordinances that encourage farmers’ collective practices for increased yield and enhanced climate change adaptation. Released in its new “ Rice Science for Decision-Makers” issue, the appeal transpired from results of  the DA-PhilRice project titled, “Enhancing capacities to enhance crop productivity and climate change resiliency: A community-based approach in Aurora Province,” which proved that bayanihan and crop diversification […]

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 […]