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, […]

Farmer association in Naguilian, La Union, reported an increase in their harvest and decrease in rice production cost through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program. Gregorio Ramos Jr, president of the Naguilian Irrigators Service Association Inc., said their association had received farm machineries while 210 of their members were recipients of certified inbred seeds from RCEF. “By using certified inbred rice seeds and farm machines, our harvest increased by 2t/ha, and some of […]

Quezon farmers are optimistic that rice yield in their province would increase with the series of training currently conducted by the Departmentof Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research (DA-PhilRice) branch station in Los Baños starting first quarter. Dr. Michelle C. Quimbo, Rice Technology and Innovations Promotion (RiceTIP) project leader, said DA-PhilRice in Los Baños will conduct seven batches of training on PalayCheck or integrated rice production and nutrient decision support tools in Quezon. The province, […]

The National Rice Technology Forum’s (NRTF) hybrid rice demonstration site in Cauayan, Isabela is estimated to hit the highest yield this quarter. In a report by Dr. Santiago R. Obien, Department of Agriculture’s (DA) senior technical adviser, he presented crop cut yield data showing that eight of the hybrid rice varieties in the NRTF demonstration site will hit the highest yield of 15.6t/ha (dry weight) this harvest season. “Crop cutting […]