The Philippine Agricultural Journalists (PAJ), the second oldest organization of journalists in the country, had recognized the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for its role in communicating agricultural developments and issues, March 29. In ceremonies co-sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, PAJ conferred the 2015 Binhi awards on two PhilRice communication initiatives. Gusto Namin Milyonaryo Kayo, a campaign that showcases progressive rice and rice-based farmers, won the 2015 Agricultural Information and […]

The Department of Agriculture’s information system based on satellite data and ground observations is helping the Philippines monitor rice production and prepare for and mitigate the effects of disasters to rice areas such as typhoons and El Niño. The Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) project will present key achievements and activities on its first annual executive meeting, 31 March. High-level officials including Senator Cynthia Villar, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, DA undersecretaries, and […]

Two PhilRice researchers were recognized in the 2016 Regional Gawad Saka Award, an annual search by the Department of Agriculture (DA) for outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries. Dr. Roel R. Suralta, Scientist I and Crop Biotechnology Center head, received the Outstanding Agricultural Scientist Award for Central Luzon. Meanwhile, Dr. Riza Abilgos-Ramos, Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division head, received the Outstanding Agricultural Researcher Award for Central Luzon. Suralta, 42, […]

The National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) approved 14 new inbred and dry-seeded varieties in 2015 developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Among the newly-released varieties, four inbreds (NSIC Rc394, Rc396, Rc402, and Rc414) and five dry- seeded (NSIC Rc416, Rc422, Rc424, Rc426, and Rc430) were developed by PhilRice. NSIC Rc394 (Tubigan 32) is an early-maturing […]

Students from Isabela State University (ISU) Echague Campus learned the application of information and communications technology-based resources in agriculture, 17 March. The knowledge sharing and learning (KSL) activity titled Why AgRiCOOLture? held in PhilRice Isabela aims to increase awareness of future agriculturists on ICT platforms they can use and share to their farmer-parents and relatives. Over 200 agriculture students participated to try the Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank (PRKB), MOET app […]

PhilRice has launched a rice paddy art at its central experiment station in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija to encourage the youth and ‘millennials’ to venture in rice farming, March 15. The rice paddy art, also popular in Japan and other rice-producing countries, shows the faces of celebrity loveteam Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza known as ‘Aldub’ made of purple rice, a traditional variety, and NSIC Rc360, an inbred […]

A PhilRice study is developing breeding lines that can produce high yielding drought-tolerant rice varieties based on root traits to improve upland rice production. Rainfed upland areas can poorly accumulate water because of uneven slope location, absence of bunds, and lower water- holding capacity of the soil. “The plan is to let the rice plant have the ability to avoid dehydration, basically, to access whatever water source there is through […]

A PhilRice videographer recently won in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) international video competition themed Advancing Asia: Investing for the future. Jayson C. Berto, a videographer and writer from the Institute’s Development Communication Division, won in the Asia-wide contest by the IMF. Berto’s entry was about PhilRice’s Infomediary Campaign site in Davao Oriental. He documented how the training of a school teacher resulted in quite a number of impressive results. […]

With the onslaught of El Niño and the summer season fast approaching, an expert advises farmers to take necessary precautions against heat stroke. Dr. Raul V. Destura, an internal medicine and infectious disease specialist, says that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks among farmers who work under the scorching heat of the sun. According to Destura, heat stroke, also known as sun stroke, is a severe […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Midsayap, North Cotabato has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Midsayap-Dilangalen National High School (MDNHS) to promote agriculture to senior high school students, 8 February. Effective this year, senior high school students of MDNHS will undergo an immersion-training program under the crop production curriculum. PhilRice Midsayap will provide technical assistance through lectures and hands-on activities on crop production. “We want the students […]