Almost a thousand students were introduced to the prospects in agriculture in an information caravan for youth held in Legazpi City, Albay.

Go Public Mestiso.  Participants assess Mestiso 20 (M20), one of the hybrid rice varieties featured in the recent Hybrid Rice Derby: Provincial Hybrid Techno Forum in Sta. Maria, Agoo, La Union. A public hybrid, M20 yields 6.4-11.7t/ha and matures in 111 days. The event, participated by hundreds of rice farmers, researchers, agricultural technicians, and local officials aim to show the hybrids’ crop stand, reaction to pest, and panicle formation. PhilRice and UPLB bred Mestiso 20 (M20).

Farmers in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija had localized the technologies gained from a four-month Farmers’ Field School (FFS). Ugat-Uhay Farmers Association showed off their own farm structures in a recent FFS graduation ceremony.  The season-long training introduced newly-released inbred and hybrid rice varieties, Kwebo, and Capillarigation. Farmers, partners in the Rice Business Innovations System Community Program (RiceBIS), also identified rice varieties suitable in their area. The program’s highlights include:   DIY […]

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) urges farmers to adopt technologies that will help them cope with the weak El Niño, which started in November 2018 and is forecasted to end in June this year. Farmers in irrigated areas are advised to use water efficiently so it can reach tail-end areas in the irrigation system. They are encouraged to practice controlled irrigation, which can reduce water use by around 16-35% without reducing […]

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country’s lead agency for rice research for development, pushes for the use of high-quality inbred seeds and its associated technologies to help farmers become competitive and survive the influx of cheaper rice from the international market. According to PhilRice experts, competitiveness means increasing farmers’ yield by at least 5 tons per hectare for inbred seeds and reducing their production cost by 30%. Signed on […]

Beginning of smart farming. Ilocano farmers in Batac City, Ilocos Norte are recently taught on producing mushroom as another source of income. A component of Palayamanan Plus or rice-based crop diversification and crop-animal integration, mushroom production  uses rice hull in fruit bag preparation. Thus, burning of rice hull in farming communities are lessened. PhilRice Batac conducted the three-day training.  

Off to Japan. As part of their preparatory course before a training in Japan, 21 young farmers from across the country completed a week-long training on Farm Machinery Operation and Safety with PalayCheck System at PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Nueva Ecija, February 15. The participants, recipients of the Young Filipino Farm Leaders’ Training Program by the Agricultural Exchange Council, are set for an 11-month training starting April in Japan.

Drone in the farms. Experts from FutureRice Farm of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) will monitor rice growth using drone and other modern farming technologies. Promoting precision agriculture, drone was used in direct-seeding and mechanical transplanter for rice establishment. Fertilizers and herbicides will also be applied using the drone spreader and sprayer systems this 2019 dry season. FutureRice Farm’s study on drone and other modern farming technologies is in […]

Sharing is caring. Seventy-four families from indigenous people community near PhilRice Bicol receive packed rice, dry goods, and used clothing. The IPs from barangays Joroan, Misibis, and Mayong in Tiwi, Albay are also currently involved in the project, Phase II: Enhancing the Capabilities of Bicol Agta’s IPs through Palayamanan Approach, which is jointly implemented by PhilRice Bicol and PhilRice Los Baños. The IP communities were hit with flash flood and […]

San Mateo, Isabela- Incumbent Isabela Governor Faustino “Bodjie” Dy III commended the Golden Rice project for securing all the necessary requirements first before conducting field-testing, and for initiating dialogues among researchers, policymakers, and the public. “We can see that the researchers behind the Golden Rice Project are really responsible for complying with all the requirements before they proceed to the actual field trial. Hence, let us give them the benefit […]