Sowing rice seeds in straight rows directly into the soil is now made easier with the reduced-till planter. As the name connotes, the reduced-till planter works in minimally prepared soil at a predetermined seeding rate, with an option to simultaneously apply basal fertilizer. The machine can also be used to plant other crops such as maize, soybean, and mungbean. The machine is a product of collaboration among the DA National […]

Comprising about 19% of the total labor cost in rice production, land preparation can be worrisome for farmers. Experts at the Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division (REMD) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) find ways to ease farm drudgery while reducing labor cost. They developed a 3-disc plow attachment for hand tractors to make land preparation less laborious and more economical for farmers. Engr. Elmer Bautista of PhilRice’s REMD […]

PhilRice is set to launch a book on engaging young people in agriculture at the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in Los Baños, Laguna, July 13, 1-5pm.  Youth & Agriculture: The Infomediary Campaign in the Philippines relates the experiences and how-tos of PhilRice project on Infomediary Campaign Campaign team lead Jaime A. Manalo IV is the main author, with contributions from team members […]

A PhilRice crop protection expert reminds farmers that early detection is the best way to prevent spread of diseases in rice.     Rice diseases are more prevalent during the rainy season as weather conditions are more conducive to disease development and severity. Dr. Jennifer T. Niones from the Crop Protection Division (CPD) of PhilRice mentioned bacterial leaf blight (BLB), fungal diseases like rice blast, sheath blight, and rice tungro […]

Three teams of PhilRice experts won awards in the 46th Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP) Scientific Conference held in General Santos City, June 13-18. The study titled Potential of Algae as Aquaculture Feed Ingredient won the Best Paper award for downstream category. It was authored by researchers from the Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division (RCFSD) of PhilRice, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Freshwater […]

With the increasing per capita intake of rice in the country, researchers at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are studying a way to eat healthier and diversify Filipinos’ diet. PhilRice food researchers explore the feasibility and consumer acceptability of adlai mixed with rice. They call it rice-adlai blend. “We chose adlai owing to its very similar characteristics with rice. True enough, our sensory evaluation showed that rice eaters find […]

Multi-awarded PhilRice researchers Dr. Roel Suralta, Dr. Sailila Abdula, and Jaime Manalo IV were once again recognized for their notable contributions to rice science and development. Suralta, Scientist I and Crop Biotechnology Center director, received the Eduardo A. Quisumbing Medal for basic research from the Department of Science and Technology- National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST). He was recognized for his study titled, Developmental and quantitative trait loci (QTL) […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has partnered with the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to help the farmers increase their productivity by integrating dairy enterprise in rice production. The partnership is in support to PhilRice’s Palayamanan Plus, an intensified rice-based production system that focuses on increasing profitability in the rice environments through integration and diversification of farming components such as rice-based crop production, mushroom, livestock, and organic production for higher […]

The Rice Science Museum of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) highlighted the traditional farm implements and cultural music in celebration of the National Heritage Month. As part of the new exhibit titled, Transformation in Progress, farm implements such as araro (plow), lingkaw (scythe), bilao (winnow), and kareta (sled), which were gradually replaced with modern machines, are displayed.  An acoustic session called Awit, Palay, at Buhay was also conducted to […]

A research study found bio-pesticides or organic pesticides effective in managing rice pests and diseases. Often, bio-pesticides are used in vegetables. But the study titled Bio-pesticides: Pest management in rice conducted by PhilRice Isabela, and DA-Northern Cagayan Experiment Station (NCES) proved that they can also be effective in managing rice pests. Bio-pesticides are compounds derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms that contain natural deterrents and anti-microbial properties that help ensure […]