Access to farming information is now taking a new trend as modern technology plays pivotal roles in reaching Filipino farmers. According to Dr. Ronan G. Zagado, development communicator at PhilRice, use of short message service (SMS) allows an alternate and easier route for farmers in obtaining agricultural information. Zagado explained that aside from being a social communication medium, SMS is also used massively in agriculture. “The PhilRice Text Center (PTC) […]

Comprising about 19% of the total labor cost in rice production, there, indeed, is a pressing need to look for new ways of doing land preparation.  The Reduced Tillage Technology (RTT) is an alternative system of land preparation for irrigated areas where plowing is not applied. Rice stubbles, weeds, and the scattered rice straws are pressed two to three times using the hand tractor’s paddy wheels attached with riding-type leveler […]

Science City of Muñoz – Researchers from PhilRice are exploring a new way of analyzing rice leaf nitrogen. A study titled Rapid estimation of rice leaf nitrogen contents using low-cost visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) Spectroscopy, aims to develop and evaluate the performance of a visible-NIR spectroscopy technology to estimate the leaf nitrogen contents of some Philippine irrigated lowland rice cultivars. Spectroscopic analysis is being used in the United States and Australia to […]

Public and private sectors are preparing for the search for RICEponsible champions, an initiative that encourages the national and local sectors to promote non-wastage of rice and consumption of healthier forms of rice in their communities. With about P10M at stake, the search is open to government offices, local government units, and learning institutions. “We intend to join in this competition not just for the prize, but because we believe […]

The Rice Science Museum, hosted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute, brought agricultural issues to policymakers during the country’s recent celebration of Farmers and Fisherfolk Month. In a 2-day Be RICEponsible forum and exhibit at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, museum curator Sophia Maria M. Cuevas, said that the mobile museum featured sections on the role of congress and public on rice self-sufficiency and conservation. “Filipinos better retain information through visual […]

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – Most of the participants in the Rice Science and Art Summer Camp, conducted on 19-22 May at PhilRice in Nueva Ecija had resolved to consider working in the agriculture sector after completing their studies. “As city dwellers, we are unaware of the processes that the rice undergoes before it reaches our plates. This camp made me realized the intricacies of rice production and […]

To help rice tillers become entrepreneurs, PhilRice development workers were recently updated on agripreneurship. Training facilitator Dr. Rene Resurreccion, a licensed trainer of the Competency-based Economies through Formation of Enterprise approach, said that “economic development for all” can be achieved by producing more local entrepreneurs. “Without entrepreneurs, there can be no development,” Resurreccion said. Resurreccion developed the Entrefarm Game,designed to teach basic entrepreneurship to farmers. It includes modules on basic […]

Delegates from the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangladesh visited Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to learn about the Institute’s research and development programs and latest technologies in Philippine farming, May 25. The agricultural extension staff had a discussion with Dr. Norvie L. Manigbas on the seed system and advanced production technology. They were also toured to the main laboratories, and technology demonstration areas.

Science City of Muñoz – The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has produced an information kit to equip  farmers with information on how they can better adapt to the impacts of  climate change.  Said info kit is a “ready-to-print” material that contains a list of climate change-ready technologies the farmers can  use for rice and rice-based farming systems. It includes the recommended varieties that can withstand different climate-related stresses such […]

A poster on a PhilRice training program for fresh agriculture and related sciences graduates called the “Rice boot camp” won the Best Poster Award during the 23rd Federation of Crop Science Societies of the Philippines Conference in Pampanga,  May 11-16. Titled “Training program for new graduates of agri and other related sciences to help boost the rice industry”, the poster outlined how top fresh college graduates can be mobilized to […]