DA-PhilRice celebrates its 36th year of serving the Filipino rice farmers across the nation on November 3-5, 2021.
“Through the years, DA-PhilRice continuously strives to make rice production not only more efficient, but also dependable and sustainable in meeting the growing demands of millions of Filipino rice consumers,” Dr. John C. de Leon, executive director, said.
He added that through the Institute’s research for development (R4D) efforts, it continues to implement programs to improve the competitiveness of the Filipino rice farmers and the Philippine rice industry and transform it to be more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.
The Institute’s works have been making an impact on the lives of rice farmers through research, development, and extension.
“DA-PhilRice has helped me greatly in increasing my rice production. Thank you so much to all the staff,” Fer Centeno, farmer in Pangasinan, said.
“I and my fellow trainees are grateful that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program has reached us despite the remoteness of our barangay. We are also thankful for the free certified inbred seeds that RCEF has been giving us for four cropping seasons now. Our farmer association also received a combine rice harvester from the program,” said Leopoldo Lopango, a rice farmer in Masbate.
“Thank you, Rice Business Innovations System community program for helping us, farmers. We were able to sell our palay at a higher price because we learned group marketing,” Lee Espiritu of Pangasinan said.
DA-PhilRice and other stakeholders in the rice industry maintain productive partnerships and continue to exchange ideas to better serve rice farmers.
To be implemented through online and limited interpersonal activities, the anniversary celebration will feature the 33rd Ugnay Palay: National Rice R4D e-conference where DA-PhilRice will convene the rice sector to discuss the new challenges and opportunities in rice research for development in November 4-5.
Dr. John C. de Leon, executive director, said that the conference focuses on the agriculture sector adapting strategies that emphasize food security amidst the pandemic.
“The pandemic is pushing us to think and act more. This is the time when availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food need not be compromised while dealing with the farm productivity constraints. The Mandanas-Garcia ruling and the province-led agriculture and fishery extension system may provide opportunities for us to improve the agriculture sector,” he said.
Researchers, scientists, academics, students, farmers, and other stakeholders will help identify ways that can assist the local government units in implementing the new programs.
One DA Reform Agenda, national agricultural programs, and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Programs will also be highlighted in the plenary sessions.
The SRO seminar series on research management will also be featured with Dame Dr. Mary Ann P. Sayoc as speaker. Outstanding staff will also be honored in the “Dangal ng PhilRice” to be led by lawyer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones. Thanksgiving and moral enrichment program will also highlight the anniversary.