PhilRice has started training new rice specialists to maximize assistance to farmer-beneficiaries of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and become as competitive as their ASEAN counterparts. The modular season-long training, orchestrated by the Technology Management and Services Division (TMSD), is one of the preparatory activities carried out by the. The first training of rice specialists was carried out in the early 1990s during the implementation of the KASAKALIKASAN programme, which focused on integrated pest management and the facilitation of farmers.
Ten percent of the Rice Fund (P1B) will be used to provide extension services by PhilRice, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, ATI and TESDA. With this milestone, we hope to help our rice farmers mitigate the impact of the Rice Trade Liberalization Act.” Farmers in Zaragoza and Nueva Ecija have started special rice operations to meet the demand of rice cake sellers in the province.
Not so long ago, boiled "pitu-pito" was used in many regions of the country. He also said that the municipal doctor is aware of the use of Magaraya as a medicine, even though it is not on the country's list of traditional medicines. Stem borer is one of the major insect pests of rice that can rob up to 50% of the yield.
According to spokesperson Nanelle Quinto of Buenavista MLGU, the joint efforts of farmers and the government have paid off.
Roaring machines
Training rice specialists
Agri-expo
THE COUNTRY
Reviving
FEATURE
So why not bring it back?
Diligence (Sipag at Pagpupunyagi)
Cooperation (Sama-sama at Tulong-tulong)
Compassion (Malasakit sa Magsasaka)
Helping farmers do business
No traders
Ready to be agripreneurs
Closing the gaps
Mysticism or fact, we are taught that we are bound in the rhythm of life; that knowingly or unknowingly, our actions affect our fellows. Through a social media group, frustrated farmers were threatening to plant rice only for their own consumption, forgetting about commercial cultivation. A farmer in Nueva Ecija even sold her hectare of land after giving up rice cultivation.
Meanwhile, Tatay Isidro, a vegetable farmer in Laguna, is content with his life and believes that farming will continue to provide for his family's needs. But this was not his experience before his participation in the direct-to-farm program of Max's Group Inc. MGI), which runs a chain of restaurants throughout the country. In the past, part of our harvest went to waste as we had difficulty marketing our products.
But thanks to the help of the MGI program, some farmers are now better off,” said 40-year-old Isidro.
How a Filipino
Since 2015, MGI had been sourcing agricultural products directly from small farmers and cooperatives under its Corporate Sustainability, Synergies and Relationships program to instill pride in products, support local agriculture and bring fresh and quality food to customers. Villanueva said MGI has so far sourced over 1,000 tonnes of produce directly from farmers, removing layers in the supply chain, which. This program complements the company's sustainable supply chain goals - assured supply, good prices and fresh and quality ingredients.
The group's] efforts to develop local agricultural partnerships have resulted in a shift in the company's purchasing behavior – more than 40% of MGI's raw vegetable needs now come directly from farmers instead of merchant-consolidators,” summarized Villanueva. Tatay Isidro, who sends his three children to school because of his farm income, is just one of the MGIs. Villanueva said MGI selects farmer suppliers based on the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture, DOST-PCAARRD, and the company's own procurement parameters.
The farmer groups are treated fairly like other suppliers and must meet quality parameters set by the company, and they commit to sustained supply and fair prices," she advised. Farmer cooperatives in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Laguna and Leyte not only benefit from the Philippine restaurant chain as a regular market for their products. They are also provided with workshops and training programs on entrepreneurship, sustainability and farming resilience through MGI's partners, including a non-governmental organization, a state university and private seed companies.
Amid the virtually unbridled influx of imported agricultural products, MGI selects the produce of local farmers because of its commitment to nation-building and improving the lives of Filipinos. From vegetables, rice is a logical continuation because it is an important meal in the company.” With this potential farming project, Villanueva said farmers would have a better return on their labor and equity than just selling palaya to traders or their agents.
On MGI's part, she said that the company will be able to provide traceable and consistent quality supplies of rice for its restaurants. The company has already introduced special menu items that celebrate local produce, such as the heirloom rice grown in the Cordilleras called Tinawon, in Max's Restaurant's flavored rice dish. Unlike many rice farmers who swallow the low farm gate prices, Tatay Isidro no longer worries about his produce being rotten or being bought at a throwaway price.
Steps to achieve a well-leveled field
Clean and repair dikes and ditches
Plow or rotovate field 21-30 days before planting
Harrow field every seven days after planting. The first harrowing is along plowing pattern; the second
Level the field with a wooden plank or tiller-attached leveler. The field must be filled with 5cm water depth
For direct wet-seeded rice, construct small canals surrounding the field near the dikes and at the
LGUs champion rice farmers
Six pesos more
50/50 scheme
I had to ride a motorcycle and pay P250 each way,” Abrigo said, pointing to the concrete road. Vertudez went down the mountain to the main road, where there is cell phone signal, to send Abrigo a text message informing her that the community's rice was ready to be sold.
Of calling and empowerment
Sitio San Ysiro
Los Baños cafe satisfies both diners & farmers
Her truck reached a valley in the lower foothills of the Sierra Madre. At the time of Abrig's visit, she was picking garlic, mangoes and 5 cav of organically grown white rice, which sells for P65/kg or P3,250/cav. It came from 20 farmers from the upper areas of the Sierra Madre and Leroy had brought them together a few days before Abrigo arrived.
But for the Dumagat farmers, she is more than a customer, and rightly so, as she helped to empower the community. The community's partnership with Abrigo's Sierreza also helped him send his seven children to school. From his last harvest of 80 cav of red and black rice, he bought his son a motorcycle, which also assists him on the farm.
This was made possible when Abrigo posted a photo of him and his harvest on Sierreza's Facebook page. There we cannot control the price as dictated by the 'market master'. We also have to pay for transportation costs,” lamented Tatay Rolly, 51. With Abrigo, farmers do not have to pay the necessary expenses as she is willing to make the long drive and collect the supply in person.
While farmers grow rice on a small scale, Abrigo stressed that "it's not just the quantity that matters, but also the right price."
The café
Lifetime investment
GO GLOBAL MAKING FARMERS
1 PLANNING DOCUMENTS 2 PRODUCTION NO PESTICIDES
5 SHIPPING
4 MARKETING
3 PROCESSING
Local enterprises consolidate their export products by
The prize for cultivating
Higher value
More rewards
More restaurants, malls, grocery stores, hotels and other institutional buyers are finding it convenient to source rice and other food items from local farmer groups. This budding story of the Rayuray Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (RFAC) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte shows the first steps towards realizing such potential, although it is still far from its climax. Composed of 59 members, RFAC has been part of the PhilRice-led multi-agency program called Rice Business Innovations System Community (RiceBIS) since 2017.
They currently market four products: dried palay, ground rice, brown rice and onion pickles. Apart from dried palay, their products attract the limelight through fairs, local retailers and a public market kiosk which opened in April this year. One of the biggest exposures they had is the monthly Producers to Consumers (P2C) trade show and exhibition in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City.
PARTNERS IN THE FIELD
Why not groups?
Expediting quality production
Meeting the quantity demanded
Hurdling both quantity and quality
Among the 500 documented rice varieties today, three nationally recommended varieties—NSIC Rc 222 (Tubigan 18), Rc 216 (Tubigan 17), and Rc 160 (Tubigan 14)—are remarkably different for one farmer and one seed grower in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
RICEbusiness makes profit
Combo preferences
RISE WITH RICE
Let’s do arithmetic
Strategies
Soft white rice
VOXPOP
FREDIERICK M. SALUDEZ
Joey G. Villanosa, 60
Agriculturist, Zamboanga del Sur
Lloyd Jason Andiano, 33 Farmer, North Cotabato
Jayson Ragay, 32 Farmer, Quezon
Marjorie T. Repol, 23
Government employee, General Santos City I am thinking of an online campaign through social media
Janet Pablo, 55
College dean, Benguet
Milagros Artus, 57 Farmer, Bulacan
Plant pest experts tapped to assess infestation in PNG
Cantila is DA-RFO 12’s
Outstanding Agri-Researcher
EXTRAORDINAIRE
STAFF
He directs the Healthier Rice Program, which includes Golden Rice and the High-Iron and Zinc Rice Project, which uses biotechnology to breed micronutrient-rich rice varieties in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute. I hope Golden Rice and high iron and zinc rice would be made available to the public soon.
Biotech researcher
Congratulations to our newly
