Field canvas. DA-PhilRice in Batac City, Ilocos Norte promotes deeper understanding of rice farming through rice paddy art displayed at Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU). It featured the image of Dr. Santiago R. Obien, former MMSU president and first PhilRice executive director, in the 4,000 m2 demonstration area.  The rice paddy art used IR 1552, a traditional purple rice variety from Korea, and PSB Rc82, a traditional high-yielding inbred variety […]

Philippine Rice Research Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-PhilRice) in Los Baños turns over 1,420 free seedlings to the Gawad Kalinga Los Baños Ville residents, May 27. As part of DA’s “Plant, Plant, Plant” program, the seedlings were provided to help ensure food sufficiency during emergency situations amid COVID-19. Recipients are expected to plant the seedlings in their yard as a sustainable source of food under the society’s new […]

More than 1,200 farmer-beneficiaries of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF-Seed Program) in Mangatarem, Pangasinan receive certified inbred rice seeds within two days despite risk brought about by COVID-19. The high-quality seeds were distributed simultaneously in 60 barangays without drawing big numbers of farmers.  Farmers wore face mask and practiced physical distancing while waiting for their seed allocation.  As of May 25, PhilRice Batac in collaboration with its LGU partners, […]

About 500 farmers from Alamada and Banisilan, Cotabato completed the Farmers’ Field School on dinorado rice production, clustering approach, and rice-based agro-enterprise, Aug. 20. A training under Cotabato Special Rice Project, the initiative encourages farmers to market their own produce through rice-based agro-enterprise. Cotabato Dinorado Agriculture Cooperative was also launched as first of the three cooperatives founded by farmers through the project. Funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research, the […]

With the theme, “Paving our way to 30,” PhilRice Agusan celebrated its 29th anniversary, Aug. 8, through thanksgiving ceremony and seminar on HIV, schistosomiasis, and mental health conducted by the Department of Health in Caraga. Outstanding employees were also recognized.

Delegates from PhilRice Bicol garnered two best papers awards in the 1st Bicol Region Research, Development, and Extension Network Review held in Naga City, Aug. 22-23. The paper, Phase II: Enhancing the Capabilities of Bicol Agta IPs Through Palayamanan Approach was awarded 1st place in the Socioeconomics category while Accelerating the Development and Dissemination of Technologies for Direct-Seeded Rice in Irrigated and Rainfed Ecosystem won 2nd place in Technology Adaptation. PhilRice Bicol staffers also presented their completed […]

PhilRice Los Baños enhanced students’ knowledge on organic agriculture, pest management, and crop production. About 200 junior and senior high school students became aware of PhilRice programs and agricultural careers. The learners from Santisimo Rosario Integrated High School also toured the station’s gene bank, rice chemistry and tissue culture laboratories, and one-stop information shop.

Supporting a provincial drive called “Todas Dengue, Todo Na’to (Ikaanim na Kagat), PhilRice staffers joined nearby communities in San Mateo in keeping the environment clean. Isabela is among the provinces with the most number of dengue cases with 2,933 and 18 deaths.

The Ilocos Sur provincial government expressed support to the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP) in a courtesy call initiated by PhilRice Batac, Aug. 22. Officials, led by Governor Ryan Luis Singson, were briefed on the activities and services under RCEP. Ilocos Sur is one of the top 20 provinces yielding an average of more than 4t/ha.

Farmers, with more than 50 years of farming experience in Cotabato, were trained on current rice production technologies in Knowledge Sharing and Learning activities initiated by PhilRice Midsayap in June. The station also trained new graduates from Cotabato City State Polytechnic College, Southern Christian College, and University of Southern Mindanao; agricultural extension workers; and local officials on PalayCheck, Minus-One Element Technique, and Palayamanan Plus. About 150 participants were engaged in […]