Written by the Web Team   Rice straws, which are generally burned after harvesting, are now made profitable with farmers` wives using them as basic material for mushroom production. Following a recent Specialized Training Course on Mushroom and Vermiculture Production conducted by PhilRice in Midsayap, women in Bual Norte and Bual Sur are encouraging more farmers` wives to join them in forming an organization that will engage in mushroom commercial […]

Written by the Web Team   Flexibility is one thing that rice can boast of as a living organism, PhilRice Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. said. This he noted in the midst of abnormal weather challenges that confront rice production. In a statement Rasco noted the ability of rice to withstand a wide range of ecosystems, given appropriate technologies and environments. “Rice can actually survive disasters. We just need […]

Written by the Web Team   Research and development contributes to 25% yield growth in rice, said the authors of the “Securing Rice, Reducing Poverty” book with the then Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Director and now National Economic and Development Authority Chief Arsenio Balisacan among the authors. Balisacan and associates highlighted the need for increased budget in rice R&D by closing the […]

Written by the Web Team   Milky money. Farmers can  gain additional profit by growing Calocybe indica or milky mushroom in their own backyard. Jay-ar B. Tapec of PhilRice Isabela said that a  kilo of rice hull and rice straw substrate can produce an average of 1 to 1.8 kilo of fresh Milky Mushroom. Aside from 100-180% biological efficiency, milky mushroom have long shelf life lasting for seven days at […]

Written by the Web Team   Farmers in Region II had committed themselves to be more productive following their attendance to a season-long training on PalayCheck, an integrated crop management system for rice, and Palayamanan, a diversified rice-based farming system. “Farmers are eager to learn new technologies, but sometimes, we lack government support. We are lucky that we have this free training, so it’s a must for us to have […]

Written by the Web Team   Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala expressed confidence that “Filipino farmers can be at par with the best farmers of the world” with the results of Palayabangan, a nationwide farming contest, in this year`s dry season. “Nakakatakot ang ASEAN integration. Pero nakita natin na kaya palang maging globally competitive ang ating mga magsasaka (The ASEAN integration may sound intimidating. But today, it`s proven that farmers […]

Written by the Web Team   Dr. Mary Ann Baradi, supervising science research specialist of PhilRice in Batac, Ilocos Norte, recently received the regional Gawad Saka outstanding agricultural researcher award from the Department of Agriculture. Baradi received the award for her  researches published in national and international journals and presented in conferences. She co-authored the study titled, Simulation of paddy drying in a Low Cost In-Bin Dryer, published in the […]

Recharging the mind.  Agriculture committee heads in the municipalities and barangays in Cotabato participated in the Rice S&T Updates and Appreciation Course for Local Executives conducted by PhilRice Midsayap in June 10-11. Coming from Pigcawayan, Pikit, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap, and Aleosan, the local executives learned about the drum seeder, Minus One Element Technique, Leaf Color Chart, observation well in the controlled irrigation, vermicomposting, and mushroom production.

Written by the Web Team   Aurora, the lowest rice-producing province in Region III, may soon increase its harvests with the promotion of pest-reducing farm practices in the area. Dr. Aurora M. Corales, supervising science research specialist based at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said that synchronous planting and crop rotation could help minimize pest and disease occurrences including rats, rice black bug, rice bug, tungro, rice blast, and […]

Written by the Web Team   PhilRice breeders encourage farmers to plant early maturing and drought-tolerant rice varieties in preparation for the likely coming of El Niño this cropping season. El Niño is expected to hit the country the last quarter of 2014 and will last until the first quarter of 2015, based on the recent advisory by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). PAGASA predicted changes […]