Rice farming and coastal communities may soon benefit from the first nipa bioethanol production facility launched on Oct. 7 in Brgy. Cabaggan, Pampalona, Cagayan. Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr., executive director of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), said that the bioethanol project in Cagayan, a province in Northern Luzon with rich source of nipa extracts, may help supply local energy demand. “Fossil resources have been dwindling since the 1970s. This […]

Young agri information providers in Albay experienced how it`s like to be farmers in the 1st Infomediary Ceremonial Harvesting at the Libon Agricultural Integrated High School, Oct. 10. The 1-hectare rice garden, where the activity was held, is a component of the Infomediary campaign conducted by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). The two-year campaign aims to mobilize the youth to be infomediaries or information providers in the rice farming […]

Research and training agencies in the country are banking on the potential of agricultural input suppliers in Region III as intermediaries or partners in disseminating rice information and technologies. In an activity, more than 100 seed sellers, farm machine dealers, and representatives from credit companies toured around Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to be updated on farm practices, technologies, and trends. PhilRice, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and International Rice Research […]

An officer from the Department of Agriculture (DA) challenges farmers to do their role for the country to achieve rice self-sufficiency. “It is your decision to accept technologies offered to you,” DA’s Asec Edilberto M. de Luna said in a message during the Lakbay-Palay for farmers, Oct. 3, 2014. This puts the biggest challenge on the farmers’ shoulders according to him. “We are hoping that you will continue to help […]

The potential of agriculture is intensified as science and technology advances, an official under the Office of the President said in an activity at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, Oct. 1. National Youth Commissioner Percival V. Cendaña urged about 700 high school students during the Institute’s Lakbay-Palay: Astig mag-Agri to consider agriculture as a viable career. “[Gone were the days when we […]

Visual artists from main cities in Luzon gathered in the opening program of an exhibit, Sept. 30, to help build a national landmark in Nueva Ecija and promote education on rice through culture and arts. Dubbed as Palay-Kamalayan, the exhibit features works of about 25 artists based in the cities of Baguio, Quezon, and Los Baños, with rice as their medium and subject. It showcases images of rice grains, rice […]

FutureRice program has proposed solutions to these problems, with the use of high-tech smart farming combined with natural farming and alternative energy to be integrated in its model farm. The FutureRice model farm will showcase technologies and practices that can improve the conditions of farming communities and protect the rice environment. Youth and farmers are expected to learn about high-tech smart farming combined with natural farming and alternative energy at […]

Subsidizing the agriculture industry is better than subsidizing farmers directly. This is the recommendation of Piedad F. Moya, IRRI economist, in her presentation during the rice R&D conference in PhilRice, Sept 3, 2014. “The Philippines can be competitive, comes ASEAN Integration, with the right support from the national government. Something must be done to the costly production of rice in the country,” she said. Moya and some PhilRice economists did […]

Underfunding of workers in rice extension is an important factor affecting the success of extension work. This is tackled during the Invigorating the Philippine Rice Extension System forum held on September 5 at PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. “Our extension workers lose their motivation since they are underpaid. We should increase not only their capabilities but their resources as well,” ATI’s Dr. Andrew Gasmen said. […]

A paper on mobilizing the youth to search agriculture information for the farmers received two commendations during the recent Communication Policy Research: south 2014 (CPRsouth2014) conference in Maropeng, South Africa. The paper, More than just a myth or a theory: Evidence of High School Students performing infomediary roles was included in the top eight researches and was also among the five policy briefs awarded with special commendation. It was chosen among […]