Members of the RCEF Extension team took part in the annual review and planning workshop to brace themselves for an optimal execution of program plans on Dec. 6-8 at the St. Isidore The FARMer Resort, Sta. Ana, Pampanga.  Dr. Karen Eloisa Barroga reflected on achievements and areas for improvements, and challenged the group to be agile and to work as a team.  She also emphasized the importance of engaging stakeholders […]

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.  has underscored the need for a science-based approach to enhance local food security and  lessen reliance on imports during the Ugnay Palay: 35th National Rice R4DE Conference in Nueva Ecija, Nov. 29. In his keynote address, the freshly confirmed cabinet member said, “Our ultimate goal is to swiftly reduce rice imports for food security and efficiency. We also aim to inspire a new generation […]

PhilRice heightened its BeRICEponsible advocacy during the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) conducted every November to encourage the public practice the “ABKD” of rice consumption.  To  “Be RICEponsible,” Filipinos are encouraged to follow the “ABKD”: A – Adlay, mais, saba, atbp. ay ihalo sa kanin (Mix rice with other food staples), B – Brown rice ay kainin (Eat brown rice or unpolished rice), K – Kanin ay huwag sayangin (Eat […]

PhilRice Isabela has conducted a refresher training course for graduates of the Training of Trainers program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP),  Nov. 15- 23.  Thirty trainers, consisting of facilitators from farm schools and State Colleges and Universities, finished the course at the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center II (ATI-RTC II) in San Mateo, Isabela.  Dr. Andres dela Cruz Jr., RCEF coordinator, underscored the […]

Public agencies in Region II and Cordillera showed unity in assisting farmers become agripreneurs during the regions’ launching of RiceBIS 2.0 in Dupax Del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Nov. 16. The event, held concurrently with the mass graduation of four batches of Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP), strengthened the ties among key stakeholders including the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), […]

To address soaring prices of fertilizers and optimize its application, RCEF Seed Program has introduced sets of fertilizer recommendations to its partner local government units in Western and Central Visayas. These recommendations were derived from a thorough soil analysis conducted by PhilRice using the Minus-One-Element Technique (MOET) kit and app.  The app facilitates farmers in obtaining answers to queries regarding the appropriate fertilizer type and optimal application timing. Implementing MOET-based […]

PhilRice Midsayap co-leads the implementation of Mindanao Cluster Masagana Rice Industry Development program (MRIDP).  Station director Sailila Abdula said the program aims to enhance the dissemination of rice production technologies amid regional challenges.  The Mindanao Cluster MRIDP Workshop, held on Sept. 5-6, in Koronadal City, gathered program implementers and partner agencies to develop rice plans for selected provinces, emphasizing improved production in favorable areas and addressing challenges in unfavorable regions […]

With more implementers trained on agroenterprise development, more farming communities will soon benefit from the clustering approach in the Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Program.  In a three-day training course held on Oct. 10-12, 40 implementers worked on expanding the value chain-oriented agroenterprise in its 23 communities nationwide.  They also learned about processing, product generation, marketing, policy, monitoring, and evaluation from trainor Ronnel dela Cruz.  The upgraded RiceBIS program aims […]

Farm clustering has increased Agusanon farmers’ income with the assistance from Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Community Program. Farmers in the expansion sites in Remedios T. Romualdez and Buenavista, Agusan del Norte increased their income by 55.06-61.94% and 28.82-64.01% for wet season 2021 and 28.82-64.01% and 31.31-82.26% for dry season 2022. RiceBIS expansion partnered with 16 clusters and trained 415 farmers in the PalayCheck System for Agroenterprise development every cropping […]

The pilot-scale deployment of Malusog Rice Project is in progress in Quirino.  Recently, government entities and farmer cooperatives convened to strategize the production and marketing of Malusog Rice from 40ha of clustered farms in Quirino for the 2024 dry season.  Fidela Bongat, PhilRice’s project supply lead, outlined the roles of stakeholders, including the identification of irrigated areas by National Irrigation Association (NIA) Quirino, seed propagation assistance by Department of Agriculture-Regional […]