Women-farmers revered. High school students in San Mateo, Isabela honored the women farmers this Women’s Month through arts. The young artists portrayed the role of women in rice farming. Artworks were exhibited in the town’s municipal hall.

Almost a thousand students were introduced to the prospects in agriculture in an information caravan for youth held in Legazpi City, Albay.

Go Public Mestiso.  Participants assess Mestiso 20 (M20), one of the hybrid rice varieties featured in the recent Hybrid Rice Derby: Provincial Hybrid Techno Forum in Sta. Maria, Agoo, La Union. A public hybrid, M20 yields 6.4-11.7t/ha and matures in 111 days. The event, participated by hundreds of rice farmers, researchers, agricultural technicians, and local officials aim to show the hybrids’ crop stand, reaction to pest, and panicle formation. PhilRice and UPLB bred Mestiso 20 (M20).

Beginning of smart farming. Ilocano farmers in Batac City, Ilocos Norte are recently taught on producing mushroom as another source of income. A component of Palayamanan Plus or rice-based crop diversification and crop-animal integration, mushroom production  uses rice hull in fruit bag preparation. Thus, burning of rice hull in farming communities are lessened. PhilRice Batac conducted the three-day training.  

Off to Japan. As part of their preparatory course before a training in Japan, 21 young farmers from across the country completed a week-long training on Farm Machinery Operation and Safety with PalayCheck System at PhilRice Central Experiment Station in Nueva Ecija, February 15. The participants, recipients of the Young Filipino Farm Leaders’ Training Program by the Agricultural Exchange Council, are set for an 11-month training starting April in Japan.

Drone in the farms. Experts from FutureRice Farm of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) will monitor rice growth using drone and other modern farming technologies. Promoting precision agriculture, drone was used in direct-seeding and mechanical transplanter for rice establishment. Fertilizers and herbicides will also be applied using the drone spreader and sprayer systems this 2019 dry season. FutureRice Farm’s study on drone and other modern farming technologies is in […]

Sharing is caring. Seventy-four families from indigenous people community near PhilRice Bicol receive packed rice, dry goods, and used clothing. The IPs from barangays Joroan, Misibis, and Mayong in Tiwi, Albay are also currently involved in the project, Phase II: Enhancing the Capabilities of Bicol Agta’s IPs through Palayamanan Approach, which is jointly implemented by PhilRice Bicol and PhilRice Los Baños. The IP communities were hit with flash flood and […]

The Gender and Development Focal Point System and key officials of Philippine Rice Research Institute are set to improve its Level 2 standing.

  Farmers participate in Hybrid Rice Derby. More than 200 rice farmers, researchers, agricultural technicians, and local officials participated in the Hybrid Rice Derby: Provincial Techno Forum and Harvest Festival in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur on February 1. One of the 18 hybrid rice varieties showcased is Mestiso 20, a public hybrid rice that yields 6.4-11.7t/ha and matures in 111 days.

Management and officials of Philippine Rice Research Institute are recently trained on Gender, Diversity, and Inclusiveness.