Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, acting executive director of PhilRice, has designated three acting deputy executive directors (DED) and three acting branch directors, effective 1 January 2018. Deputies Former PhilRice Agusan Director, Abner T. Montecalvo, has been designated as acting DED for Administrative Services and Finance. Montecalvo is a three-time Outstanding Official awardee of PhilRice—in 2002, 2013, and 2016—and has been in the management in different capacities for 22 years. He […]

Smart and easy rice crop management now at your fingertips! The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has developed an Android smartphone and tablet farm management tool called AgriDOC App. Intended for Filipino rice farmers, researchers, and extension workers, the App aims to improve the efficiency of farm management and rice crop production activities. Moreover, with its colorful user interface, modern illustrations, and icons, AgriDOC App also aims to show to […]

The Philippine and Papua New Guinea (PNG) governments are set to sign a five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on agricultural cooperation, specifically for rice, this 2018. “We are aiming to advance the rice industry growth of PNG and the Philippines by developing hybrid varieties, investing in infrastructure, postharvest technologies and agribusiness, and organizing agricultural research, education and training,” said PhilRice Executive Director Dr. Sailila Abdula . The agreement is a […]

Two PhilRice experts were recently conferred with scientist rank by the Scientific Career Council (SCC) for their significant contribution in the field of research and development. Mr. Dindo King M. Donayre, a senior science research specialist of the PhilRice Crop Protection Division, focuses his research and has published 12 scientific papers on topics relating to weed science, plant pathology, and pest management. He has also authored a book on Weeds […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), through its program Rice Business Innovations Systems (RiceBIS) Community, has explored capital access through crowdsourcing in partnership with Cropital. “Capital access is just one of the areas of partnerships we explored”, said Dr. Aurora Corales, RiceBIS Program leader. She added that agencies working on technology transfer, training, enterprise development, organizational building, and policy are also being tapped to empower the farmers to build their […]

The brown plant hopper (BPH), locally known as kayumangging ngusong kabayo, has been reported in 2017 to have wrecked havoc on the rice farms in 18 provinces in the country with an estimated P17.87 million damage. On a per hectare basis, the pest can cause a yield loss of 10- 50% or more on rice. In response to this outbreak, experts from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have identified […]

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reminds the public to be mindful of their food consumption this holiday season during the culmination of #RICEponsiblePlateChallenge, a social media campaign that encourages consumers to prepare the healthiest and most balanced meal in a plate. “Wastage and eating more of what our body requires are prevalent in this season of food abundance. So we try to lessen this behavior through the prompts we launched […]

Two PhilRice publications were recently named national winners of the 2018 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The first publication titled Mushroom Feast: A Collection of Filipino Mushroom Recipes won in the Mushroom category. The cookbook, featuring mushrooms commonly cultivated on rice-based farms in the country, was edited by Rosaly V. Manaois, Riza G. Abilgos-Ramos, Josefina F. Ballesteros, and Amelia V. Morales of the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division, together with […]

Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) has turned over its training facilities to PhilRice Midsayap through a memorandum of agreement signed on December 11. The facilities include training rooms, a dormitory, and multi-purpose hall contained in about a hectare area. PhilRice will use them to boost its development and extension activities through rice training programs for farmers, seed growers, extension workers, and agricultural technicians. Present during the signing were (from L-R): PhilRice […]

Farmers in Zamboanga Peninsula will soon have better access to quality rice seeds as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) signed a memorandum of agreement to build the Institute’s second satellite station in Mindanao, December 4. The first satellite station is based in Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon with 96-hectare rice seed production farm. “We are trying our best to […]