The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has developed more than 80 technologies over the past four decades that improved rice production practices and helped farmers raise yields, cut costs, and manage climate risks.
PhilRice reports that 86 research-based innovations have been introduced in farm operations, postharvest systems, digital tools, and partnerships with farmers and private groups, linking research outputs directly to the field.
The PalayCheck System, an integrated crop management, was among the Institute’s initiatives, which was first tested in 2005 by 800 farmers in 15 provinces, who achieved yields of up to 6.5t/ha. The system now includes a mobile app for field monitoring and decision support and is being updated to incorporate feedback from training activities and direct seeding trials.
The Palayamanan model, which integrates rice with crops and livestock, has shown potential to raise farm productivity. At the Institute’s Central Experiment Station, rice-duck-vegetable and Sorjan cropping systems produced PhP28,000 to PhP45,000 in additional income, while vertical hydroponics, net-tunnel vegetables, and mushroom production added PhP7,000 to PhP16,000.
PhilRice engineers have designed and tested machines such as the axial-flow thresher, drum seeder, and combine harvester to ease labor and reduce harvest losses. Field trials data show that the drum seeder produced 9.58t/ha compared with 7.63t/ha through manual harvesting.
Technologies supporting water and nutrient efficiency have also been developed. Studies show that Alternate Wetting and Drying technology cuts irrigation water use by up to 30 percent without reducing yield while the Minus-One-Element Technique and other site-specific nutrient management tools guide farmers in applying the right fertilizer combinations.
In partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Drones4Rice project promotes drone-based seeding and fertilizer application.
“It takes a farmer half a day or more to seed a hectare, which can easily be done in 20 minutes with drones,” said Dr. Jasper G. Tallada, PhilRice expert.
Data from PhilRice and Department of Agriculture show that farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed and Extension Programs increased their yield from 3.63 to 4.37t/ha between 2019 and 2024.
PhilRice has also expanded extension work through knowledge products, digital tools such as Rice Crop Manager and PalayCheck App, and a partnership with the Philippine Space Agency for drought-risk mapping and better community planning using satellite data.
Under its 2023–2028 Strategic Plan, the Institute plans to integrate digital platforms, big data, and artificial intelligence into its rice research and extension programs.
