The
Philippine Rice Research Institute
(PhilRice) renewed its commitment to the Filipinos by inspiring innovations and
rural transformation during its recent 29th anniversary.
Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco Jr.
PhilRice executive director, said that the Institute`s advances in research and
development show the rice workers` efforts in helping the country provide
enough rice and foster progress in rural areas.
In 2013, PhilRice released 10
new early-maturing varieties for saline, irrigated, and rainfed lowland areas.
NSIC Rc3442SR, an aromatic special that is moderately resistant to green leaf
hopper, was also released.
“We have achieved sustained
progress in rice production by providing Filipino farmers with new
high-yielding rice varieties. [Last year was] also remarkable with the
National Year of Rice campaign. [During this campaign], we led many Filipinos
in sending a unified message that each of us can help attain rice sufficiency
and this year, we [upheld] that message by motivating everyone to be
responsible rice consumers,” Dr. Rasco said.
The 29-year-old agency
spurred innovations such as the development of nutri-rice milk, Metarhizium
anisopliae in powder form, and hydrous bioethanol fuel injector for
spark-ignition engines.
Nutri-Rice milk is a healthy
drink made from germinated brown rice containing Gamma Amino Butyric Acid,
which improves brain and cardiovascular functions and can slow down the effects
of aging.
On the other hand, Metarhizium
anisopliae is a fungal microbial agent that controls rice black bug – a
pest that can reduce yield up to 80 percent and cause complete crop loss due to
bug burn.
“[Other than our researches],
we also launched an ambitious rural transformation campaign aiming to reduce
poverty through our Gusto namin milyonaryo kayo advocacy,” Dr. Rasco
said.
Under the Gusto namin milyonaryo
kayo campaign, diversified farming and agri-business ventures will be
promoted through nucleus estates across the country starting from 10 PhilRice
stations. Nucleus estates will be put up to give farmers access to support
services including training, input, custom services, modern support
technologies, product development and packaging, and marketing.
In preparing farmers for the
ASEAN integration, PhilRice launched the Palayabangan: The 10-5 challenge,
a national competition, which aims to find out technologies that will produce
rice at the least cost without sacrificing yield.
Competition results show that
farmers can yield 10.54 t/ha for P4.94/k. Average input cost is at P11/k.
Aurelio M. Umali, Nueva Ecija
governor, lauded the Institute’s contributions in the country`s rice granary.
“[While working with]
PhilRice for the past years, I have witnessed, with considerable pride, how
your tremendous and highly successful efforts in the field of agricultural
research and development [propelled] rural progress. Truly, you are at the
forefront of agricultural innovation. Your work to boost agricultural
productivity is integral in our efforts to secure the welfare of our farmers
and enhance Nueva Ecija`s reputation as the Rice Granary of the Philippines,”
he said.
Meanwhile, Department of
Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala said that PhilRice was efficient and
productive in addressing the challenges in the agriculture sector.
Mr. Alcala said that PhilRice
helped the country increased its local rice supply. In 2013, the Philippines
produced 18.44 million metric tons of rice, making it the fastest growing
rice-producing country in Asia.
PhilRice, created through
Executive Order 1061 signed on November 5, 1985, also honored more than 100 of
its research and development workers.
Honorees were led 2
international awardees; 7, national; and 2, regional. Recipients of 3
international best poster awards; 19, national; 7, best paper international
awards; and 12, national were also recognized.
The institution also
recognized 36 loyalty awardees and welcomed three PhDs and nine master`s
graduates.
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