Agriculture

President Marcos has appointed four more top officials at the Department of Agriculture, virtually filling up all top vacant positions in DA. Appointed were DA National Rice Program Undersecretary Christopher Morales, Cheryl Marie NatividadpCaballero as Undersecretary for High Value Crops, academician Dexter Respicio Buted, former president of the Pangasinan State University as board member of the Philippine Coconut Authority and …

Because of the anomalous sale of the National Food Authority (NFA) of what it called sale to its select private traders of “old and deteriorating” rice stocks, the agency is now under severe tight watch from all sides – except by the courts yet – at a price grossly disadvantageous to the government. The said anomalous sale was first reported …

Habitat loss and human persecution – brought about by myths and legends – have caused the decimation of both fresh and saltwater crocodiles by 82 percent, said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga at the 29th Crocodile Conservation Week held in Puerto Princesa City. “Despite destructive activities by humanity, the crocodiles, now considered critically endangered …

In decades past, the Philippines was tops in natural mangroves population in its lakes and shorelines, which through the years were indiscriminately logged over by artisan and commercial furniture makers, people in the remote communities who used them for fencing and all crafts imaginable, and by fisherfolk and farmers. The mangroves were also converted into salt and fish farms, thereby …

By Rose de la Cruz Though officials of the Marcos administration announced an easing of inflation in January 2024, it could not dismiss its headache – elevated rice inflation reaching 22.6% last January from 19.6% the month prior. This is because of the continuing rice prices around the globe, caused by fears of a supply lack due to El Nino …

By Rose de la Cruz The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority reported it had provided over 56,000 rice farmers with the proper skills and education to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and help the country attain its self-sufficiency targets taster. In a statement, TESDA Secretary Suiharto Mangudatatu said the rice farmers and their family members completed various agriculture and …

Farmers in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro have increased their average harvest from 6 tons per hectare to 9 ton following their specialized training under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Service (RCEF-RESP) program. The Katipunan Magading Farmers’ Association (KAMAFA attributes the 3 t/ha. Growth to the adoption of synchronous planting following a 30-day rest period and Minus-One Element Technique …

Rice varieties (like NSIC Rc 216, Rc 160, and Rc 300) bred by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Rc 222 produced by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) were the top four most preferred rice varieties of Filipino farmers in irrigated lowland fields nationwide, both for dry and wet seasons. “These pool of inbred rice varieties were previously …

By Rose de la Cruz Instead of relying on the certified seeds that provincial and agricultural field offices would supply them, more farmers are now growing their own certified seeds, which they sell to their peers in their own and even neighboring towns. This development ensures that farmers are able to plant on time, or even earlier depending on availability …

By Rose de la Cruz Director Glenn Estrada for the Department of Agriculture’s Digitalization Program for Rice, was awarded last Feb.2  by the Development Academy of the Philippines for his capstone project on the benefits of digitalizing the farm sector. He is the second recipient of the award for outstanding capstone by the DAP’s Public Management Development Program, the leadership …