Honoring rice in the form of art became possible through the Butil, Buhay, Sining, at Kulay: A Rice Art Exhibit that was launched on Oct. 27 at the DA-Crop Biotechnology Center within DA-PhilRice CES. The heart and soul of the artworks is 71-year-old rice artist Herminigildo “Hermisanto” Santos, one of the pioneers of rice art in Asia. The one-man exhibit opened in celebration of the 37th Anniversary of DA-PhilRice, Museum […]

Roel Pagana from Tayabas City, Quezon increased his yield by 1t/ha by using certified inbred seeds and following recommendations from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). A farmer for three decades, Pagana planted new varieties such NSIC Rc 402 and new, pure seeds, which he received from RCEF Seed Program. Before the program, he used to rice seeds from previous harvest. From the usual harvest of barely achieving 4t/ha, his […]

Zambales rice farmers gave positive feedback on the use of direct seeding machines such as plastic drum seeder and ride-on precision seeder shown in a field day and forum held in Sta. Cruz, Zambales on Sep. 19 and Oct. 13. According to farmer Juanito Medida, he likes the plastic drum seeder’s precise depth and spacing. With the use of drum seeder, rice grains are seeded in straight rows allowing mechanical […]

Subsequent to the donation of three agricultural equipment by the Hungarian government through its embassy in Manila, the Midsayap branch station is now beefing up its capabilities in rice processing. Equipment include one unit of chopper for chopping rice straw to suitable cutting length, a grader for classifying rice and extracting broken rice that is important in rice mills, and a rotary hay rake for collecting cut hay or rice […]

Local executives of Calbiga and Basey in Samar expressed support to the Golden Rice Program being implemented in their municipalities during its Ceremonial Tasting and Stakeholders’ Field Day, Oct. 4-6. “The program is beneficial; let’s treasure it,” said Mayor Red Nacario of Calbiga. Meanwhile, Basey Mayor Luz Ponferrada is hopeful that the program will help address malnutrition in the country. For this year’s wet season, Golden Rice was established in […]

The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) cited the progress achieved by Negros farmers during the 2nd Site Working Group (SWG) meeting of the Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Negros Community in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Sep. 22. RiceBIS created a “pilot-test development model for community transformation that is participatory, market-driven, and supported by a scientific production base to improve the competitiveness of rice-based farming communities.” This […]

Isabela farmers will soon produce Mestiso 73 and Mestiso 99, following the showcasing of Mestizo 1 and Mestiso 20 during the Provincial Rice Technology Forum (PRTF) Field Day in Sotero Nuesa, Roxas, Isabela on Sep. 21. “There will be more hybrid rice varieties to choose from. Aside from M1 and M20 featured here in PRTF, Mestiso 73 and 99 will soon be produced here in our province,” OIC-Director Joy Bartolome […]

The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and DA-PhilRice Batac are intensifying the promotion of modern rice production technologies and youth engagement in agriculture through farm tourism. MMSU Pres. Shirley Agrupis explained that the collaborative project is a “contribution to reinvigorating the agriculture sector by showcasing innovative rice production technologies.” Farm tourism through rice paddy art established at MMSU featured Gen. Artemio Ricarte, a native of Batac City and the “Father […]

Rice farmers expressed appreciation for the conduct of the Lakbay Palay through excellent ratings forwarded to its organizers after the Sep. 14-15 event at DA-PhilRice CES, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Jerry Buan from Arayat, Pampanga said the activity served as an eye opener in improving their field practices. “In a hectare, we use 8-10 sacks of seeds because we thought that if we plant more seeds, it will […]

Dr. Sailila E. Abdula, DA-PhilRice Midsayap branch director, holds two concurrent positions under the Department of Agriculture (DA). He is the designated regional executive director, officer-in-charge, of DA-Regional Field Office 12 and director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). In a turnover ceremony held Sept. 12 at DA-RFO 12, Abdula vowed to bring ‘sense of continuity’ in implementing the department’s programs in the region. As DA-BAR director, meanwhile, he […]