Rice-based farming will increase farmers’ income and consumers will have healthier options according to Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., of the National Academy for Science and Technology (NAST) and a former executive director of PhilRice. The said approach requires diversification, integration, and intensification of farming practices. “Instead of rice mono-cropping, farmers should also grow other crops, and livestock alongside rice. With the use of existing models like vermiculture, mushroom production, […]

Dr. Calixto M. Protacio, executive director of PhilRice, designated three acting deputy executive directors (DED), effective January to December 2016. Roger F. Barroga has been designated as acting DED for administration. Drs. Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang and Flordeliza H. Bordey have been designated as acting deputies for research and for development, respectively. Barroga currently leads FutureRice, a program that explores ways to increase current rice output using 21st century and […]

A PhilRice-IRRI study recommends that the country should focus on increasing rice yield, reducing production costs, and improving milling efficiency to boost PH’s rice competitiveness. The two institutions co-implemented the study titled Benchmarking the Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia. Comparative studies were done in sites representing irrigated and intensively cultivated areas in six countries: Philippines (Nueva Ecija); China (Zheijang); India (Tamil Nadu); Indonesia (West Jave); […]

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is making the rice seeds more accessible to farmers through Lakbay Binhi, a project that brings high quality and location-specific seeds through trucks converted into mobile seed centers. The project was pilot-tested in three sites affected by typhoon Lando. On 4-9 December, 82 bags of 20-kg registered seeds were given to over a hundred farmers of Dipaculao and Casiguran in Aurora and Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Rhemilyn […]

A PhilRice-IRRI study recommends the use of hybrid varieties, optimal use of fertilizers, training of more farmers on rice technologies, and educating future farmers as some of the ways to boost rice productivity in the country. These recommendations came from the study titled Benchmarking the Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia. Co-implemented by PhilRice and IRRI, the study was presented in a research seminar on 3 […]

The Rural Transformation Movement (RTM) of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) conducted a series of mind-setting workshops among the PhilRice staff in all stations to inculcate the value of entrepreneurial principles in rice R&D.  PhilRice has embraced a paradigm to ensure that its rice R&D programs could create a holistic impact among rural farming areas. Reports suggest that while there have been rice production gains achieved over the years, […]

LIGAO CITY, ALBAY ― Around 400 upland farmers from the Bicol region completed a training program in upland rice production during PhilRice Bicol’s Field Day and Regional Recognition Day, 19 November.  The farmers participated in the Upland Palayamanan Farmers Field School where they established a diversified farming system integrating upland rice, vegetables, and other crops. Graduates came from the provinces of Albay, 70; Camarines Norte, 40; Camarines Sur, 198; Masbate, […]

Igorot upland farmers show resilience after typhoon Lando hit their rice farms in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.  “At the sight of my rice crops hardly beaten by strong winds and seeds scattered  on the ground, I was never disheartened as it didn’t leave  me empty-handed. I still harvested a few bags of traditional rice seeds,” 66-year-old Benita Bayao said, during their Upland Palayamanan Farmers Field School (FFS) graduation in Sta. Cruz, […]

Rice Science Museum, in partnership with the RICEponsible campaign team, roved around Metro Manila and in Pampanga to educate the public on good nutrition this National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM). Based in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, the Department of Tourism-accredited museum, implemented a series of exhibits this November featuring brown and pigmented rices in parks, government offices, schools, and malls. “We are doing these exhibits in support of […]

Farming is now a better prospect for the youth in Nueva Ecija who went into farming after finishing few years in school. Through the AgRiDOCs (Agricultural Development Officers of the Community), 20 out-of-school youth (OSYs) in barangay Maligaya in Science City of Muñoz were equipped with both technical knowledge and a positive mindset toward farming and agriculture. After completing the seven week-long training as part of the module for of […]