News

RCEF support reaches rice farmers in Southern Leyte

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program continues to provide support to rice farmers in Southern Leyte, providing access to certified inbred seeds, farm machinery, and training aimed at improving efficiency and productivity. In Brgy. Catmon, St. Bernard, farmer Catalino M. Lacerna, 58, said the assistance he received under the program helped reduce labor […]
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PhilRice ramps up zinc-rich rice production

Filipinos will soon have access to significant dietary advantages in addressing the prevalence of zinc deficiency as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has begun scaling up the production of two zinc-rich rice varieties. Intended to provide seeds for expanding production across the Visayas, PhilRice in Murcia, Negros Occidental, planted NSIC Rc 460 and NSIC […]
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Ligao City scales up farmer training

National agencies and local governments are intensifying efforts to improve rice productivity and farmer income through season-long, science-based training. In Ligao City, 30 farmers from multiple barangays began a Farmer Field School led by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the city government. The school promotes the PalayCheck […]
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RCEF to expand farmer trainings nationwide this year

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Training and Extension Services (TES) Program is scaling up training for farmers across the country, promising broader access to modern, science-backed rice practices and recommendations. The RCEF-TES will roll out more capacity-building initiatives this year including three Rice Specialists Training Courses, 20 Farmer Field Schools, 30 advanced training batches, and […]
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Fungi vs new rice pest identified

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) researchers have identified nine strains of naturally occurring fungi that could help farmers against fall armyworms (FAW), a new pest posing a threat to rice crops in Luzon. Evelyn M. Valdez, PhilRice crop protection expert, reported that the fungal organisms, known as entomopathogens, were found infecting FAW larvae in the […]
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