DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), the country’s lead agency on rice research and development, is encouraging stakeholders in the rice industry to scale up technologies to support the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP).
In the Rice Technology Transfer Workshops held nationwide in June, latest farming recommendations and technologies were promoted, including the 40kg/ha seeding rate using appropriate variety and the Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM). Alternate wetting and drying, nutrient management based on balanced fertilization, and the Rice Business Innovations System were also introduced.
“Let us target more users of these technologies. We should now go beyond pilot projects and technology demonstrations and do more location-specific interventions,” Dr. Leocadio Sebastian, Department of Agriculture undersecretary for Rice Industry Development said.
To scale up the technologies, Sebastian emphasized the need for converge, cooperation, and coordination between public and private sectors.
Among the agencies urged to advocate for the technologies include the National Irrigation Administration, Bureau of Plant Industry, Climate Resilient Agriculture Office, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Agricultural Training Institute, Regional Field Offices, and Philippine/Regional Council for Agriculture and Fisheries, International Rice Research Institute, Rice Board, and state universities and colleges.
Participating cooperatives and farm schools, farmer groups; seed/fertilizer/drone companies, machine manufacturers; and financial institutions we also tapped to scale up the technologies.
Meanwhile, DA’s regional rice focals led the drafting of the technology scaling plans, which are aligned with MRIDP’s four-point strategy, simplified in the acrostic Masagana: MAtatag – resilience and stability in climate change adaptation; SAma-sama – unity and convergence in farm clustering and consolidation; GAnado – motivated and enthusiastic farmer entrepreneurs in the value chain; and NApapanahon – timeliness and relevance achieved through digital transformation.
The regional field offices are expected to conduct similar workshops in their coverage area to commence technology scaling while PhilRice will provide technical assistance.
