Rice has always been a major food staple in the Philippines. Both producers and consumers consider a slight change in rice price as their major concern. In light of the emerging issues in rice price, agriculture workers from different regions in the country gathered together in a seminar-workshop to understand the rice value chain, and craft localized agriculture interventions and strategies for their respective regions. Participants crafted strategies that will […]

Researches on identifying germplasm with good traits and breeding hybrids through biotech won in the recent 2nd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research in Higher Education in Zamboanga City. Collective Efforts and Interdisciplinary Approach to Rice (Oryzasativa L.) Conservation and Use in the Philippines was adjudged best abstract and best paper among 10 entries. Xavier Greg I. Caguiat, lead researcher based at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), said that the study […]

Farmers’ group in Negros Occidental trained by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are now selling their own-produced brown rice in The District-Ayala Mall in Talisay City. “We are happy that our local farmers now bring their goods in this type of market place. Linking their products with the supermarkets and other business development providers is one of the objectives of the Rice Business Innovation System (RiceBIS) Program,” said Anileen O. […]

To increase youth engagement in agriculture, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Midsayap boosts its partnership with the academe sector in Soccsksargen. In a recent Lakbay Palay with the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan and Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), a forum was conducted to 11 public schools in Cotabato and Sarangani. USM main campus in Kabacan, North Cotabato posted an average of 29% decline on BS Agriculture […]

Villagers in this first class municipality of  Esperanza, Agusan del Sur are initiating plans to lessen pest occurrences that had been the long-running problem in the farming communities. Sharen T. Rivas, science research specialist from Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Agusan del Norte, said a campaign dubbed as Barangay IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Patrol Campaign will be launched in October. IPM entails “combining the best available tools and techniques […]

Seed quality and varietal information tops all queries in a farmer’s mind. Every cropping season, new and veteran rice farmers ask, “What variety should I plant now?” Added to this are their concerns on yield and suitability under local condition. The need for this information motivated ICT specialists Nehemiah Caballong and Paul Austian Alday of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to develop the Binhing Palay app with the National Cooperative […]

Seminar series for better agriculture. Farmers can expect improved location-specific varieties as researchers’ skills on rice breeding are enhanced through seminar series. Breeding strategies for organic rice and molecular plant breeding were discussed in an activity themed, Breeding for brighter future in agriculture, with Alvin Palanog and Dr. Arlen dela Cruz as speakers, Sept. 28. Rimmon Armones from the Sugar Regulatory Administration also shared the breeding methods in sugarcane. This initiative […]

All for high-quality seeds. PhilRice Bicol urged seed growers and farmers to plant newly released and promising rice varieties during the Rice Seed System Field day in Camarines Norte, Oct. 2.  The project, Strengthening the Seed Production and Distribution Pathways in Bicol and Eastern Visayas Region (The Rice Seed Systems Project) showcased the following varieties to farmers: NSIC Rc 25 (upland), NSIC Rc 346 (rainfed), NSIC Rc 440, NSIC RC 400, NSIC Rc 402, […]

A public hybrid variety, Mestiso 20 (M20), exhibited an excellent stand with 98% disease-free leaves during the three-day demo of the 7th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF) held at Talibon, Bohol. “Every variety performed well. However, M20 had a remarkable outcome, as it showed 98% resistance to blight. Only 2% of the crop was affected, which did not happen in the other areas where M20 was planted,” said Richard Romanillos, […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) hand over a total of 3,350 kilograms of rice seeds, comprising 2,150 kg of foundation seeds of NSIC Rc 400 and 1,200 kg of registered seeds of NSIC Rc 352, to the Local Government Unit of San Mateo, Isabela as seed support for farmers affected by the Typhoon Ompong. Reports show that Ompong has wrecked havoc on […]