Some 120 farmers and provincial agriculture staff joined the 2022 Dry Season Lakbay Palay at DA-PhilRice Negros, May 23. The event consisted of a field tour through seven stations and an open forum. At station 1, the Animal and Organic Options Component of DiscoveRice Project bannered the use of rice remnants as vermicompost substrates and animal feeds, while other crops are essential as food alternatives. Station 2 showcased six special- […]

Agricultural extension workers, local government unit farmer leaders, and representatives from farm schools, partner agencies, and state universities and colleges in Region 1 acquired knowledge on rice production technologies after the intensive Training of Trainers (TOT) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) on April 18-29 and May 10-21. The training centered on the production of high-quality inbred rice seeds, farm mechanization, knowledge-sharing competencies, ICT-based tools and […]

RCEF Coordinators and their teams were steadfast in conducting rice seed distribution activities under the “new normal” conditions. This required them to establish a good relationship or build a network, especially among legislators, regional and local government units, and farmers. They struggled with transporting seeds island-to-island, crowd management during seed distribution, deploying provincial coordinators to avoid travel restrictions and speed up distribution, conducting regular field coaching among farmers, and most […]

DA-PhilRice top officials show their commitment and support in the  delivery of high-impact research and development initiatives during their recent visits to some branch stations. Dr. Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, deputy executive director (DED) for research, inspected  the newly acquired seed production area, on-site research on rice-rice-mungbean, and rice-rice-corn cropping patterns research and demonstration field, and facilities of DA-PhilRice Isabela during its 30th anniversary celebration on Jan. 17-19. He also […]

Bicol station showcased six new high-yielding rice varieties — NSIC Rc 436, Rc 438, Rc 460, Rc 480, Rc 204H, and Rc 446H— using cost-reducing drone seeding technology during the 14th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF) Grand Field Day 2022 Dry Season in San Ramon, Bula, Camarines Sur on April 18-22.   Rice production technologies, knowledge products, ICT-based tools, and healthier rice such as brown rice, red rice, and black glutinous […]

DA-PhilRice Negros has partnered with the Central Philippines State University, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, and the Provincial Agriculture Office in integrating  support tools to help farmers increase their rice yields and reduce production costs. These support tools include the MOET, MOET App, Leaf Color Chart, LCC App, and Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service. The local government units of EB Magalona, Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Murcia, Pontevedra, […]

Executive Director John C. de Leon has constituted a team to craft a “refreshed” DA-PhilRice Strategic Plan 2023-2028 with the theme, “Rethinking Rice Security in the New Normal: Sufficient Anywhere.” They are expected to “craft the immediate, medium-term, and long-term plans pertaining to our R4D, personnel, funding, and governance that will help PhilRice stay strong, relevant, and effective; improve its performance; and become more responsive to the circumstances, underlying trends, […]

Amidst the rising prices of fertilizers in the country, DA-PhilRice launched the balanced fertilization strategy during this dry season Lakbay Palay, April 6-7. Together with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Agricultural Training Institute, and Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division, DA’s campaign “Abonong Swak (Swak sa badyet, swak sa palay),” was promoted to urge farmers to complement inorganic fertilizer application with organic materials.  Nutrient experts from DA said […]

DA-PhilRice celebrated the 2022 National Women’s Month (NWM) this March to cap the 6-year recurring theme, “We Make Change Work for Women” focusing on the sub-theme: Agenda ng Kababaihan Tungo sa Kaunlaran. The institute’s activities were aligned with the three-point objectives of the NWM celebration: inform and engage women as stakeholders of government programs and services, create and facilitate platforms to discuss good practices, gaps, challenges, and commitments in pursuing […]

An intensive five-day training capacitated 28 farmer leaders and agricultural technologists from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur in applying integrated pest and nutrient management principles of the PalayCheck System for Irrigated Lowland Rice on Jan. 10-14. The training, under the RCEF- Rice Extension Services Program, helped improve the farmers’ knowledge and skills in accurate pest identification, disease diagnosis, farm management, and fertilizer application. The trainees also learned the use of ICT-based tools […]