RICE

The Agri-Pinoy Rice Program is one of the banner components of the Department of Agriculture mainly concerned in rice farming and uplifting the lives of Filipino farmers.

Guided by the principles of the Agrikulturang Pilipino (Agri-Pinoy) framework, the National Rice Program integrates government initiatives and interventions for the agriculture sector, namely: food security and self-sufficiency, sustainable resource management, support services from farm to table, and broad-based local partnerships.

Objectives
The Agri-Pinoy Rice Program plays a key role in the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP), the central focus of the country’s food security policy from 2011 to 2016 and beyond.

With the vision of a food-secure where farmers enjoy a decent and rising standard of living, the FSSP 2011-2016 aims to achieve self-sufficiency in food staples. Self-sufficiency means satisfying domestic requirements for food, seeds, processing, and through domestic production.

Beyond 2013, the aim is to strengthen national resilience in staples production. The key strategies are concentrated in the following (1) raising farmers productivity and competitiveness, (2) enhancing economic incentives and enabling mechanisms, and (3) managing food staples consumption.

PRODUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES

Establishment of Community Seed Banks; including rehabilitation and establishment, distribution of simple seed processing equipment; and locally adopted starter seeds

Support to Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARC) development and activation, including production and distribution of registered seeds, and purification and multiplication of traditional and locally-adopted varieties

Disaster response like buffer seed stocking and provision of insurance coverage

Establishment of pest control measures like bactericides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, and light traps

Promotion of nutrient management tools as aid in formulation of Site Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) options and varieties

IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT

Support DA-National Irrigation Administration in the restoration, rehabilitation, and generation of irrigation systems and their service areas
Provision of Small Scale Irrigation Projects in rice cluster areas to ensure that major waterways are functional to achieve high irrigation efficiency
Operating, monitoring and evaluation of irrigable areas or service areas expand through restoration, rehabilitation, and construction of Small Water Impounding Projects, Diversion Dams, and Small Farm Reservoirs

POSTHARVEST DEVELOPMENT

Distribution of postharvest equipment and machinery

Construction and rehabilitation of palay sheds and warehouses, and multi-purpose drying pavements

EXTENSION SUPPORT
Conduct of trainings and training-related events for farmers such as technology transfers, schools-on-the air, Farmers' Field Day, sustainable agriculture practices, Palay Check, Palayamanan, and other social mobilization activities
Conduct of technology demonstrations (Techno-Demo) such as varietal TD, compact hybrid/cluster, community-based MRC, LSTD, abiotic stress environments, etc.
Promotion and showcase of environment-friendly technologies adaptable to organic production
Technology commercialization for ratooned rice, upland, submergence, and saline rice varieties
Technology updating and re-tooling of agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farmer technicians by conducting specialized trainings
Provision of logistical support to LGU Extension Workers and Technicians,
Organization and strengthening of Irrigators Associations (IAs) and farmers' organizations by forming and mobilizing clusters and conducting technical briefings

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Adopts research and development activities on new rice technologies, such as researcher and farmer-managed adaptability trials for new hybrids and inbred certified seeds; screening, selection and commercialization of special rice varieties like organic and biotic-stress resistant; assessment and validation of soil fertility of rice clusters for organic rice production;
Promotion and adoption of technology on controlled irrigation, irrigated and rain-fed rice systems

FARM MECHANIZATION
The way to progress in rice production is the introduction of farm machineries which allow timely production and post harvest operations, reduce labor productions and postharvest operation cost, and optimizes utilization of rice farms and labor productivity.
PhilMech in coordination with the Department of Agriculture's regional offices, and local government units, will subsidize the farmers' acquisition of farm machineries and equipment up to 85 percent. The farmers will only pay 15 percent as counterpart to the total amount of the machinery.
Farm Machineries Drying Facilities Storage Facilities
Hand Tractors MPDP Outdoor Storage Technology
Four-wheel Tractors Flatbed Fryer Warehouse
Threshers Recirculating Dryer
Rice Seed Cleaner Collapsible Dryer
Rice Combine Harvester
Floating Tiller

HOW TO AVAIL?
• a legitimate Irrigators Association, Farmers Association, or Cooperative
• registered under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)
• submit all requirements such as the letter of intent, (Municipal Agriculture Officer) MAO’s endorsement, Board Resolution, fill in the pro forma, and pay the equity of fifteen percent (15%) of the total amount of the machinery as their counterpart to the Department of Agriculture. (www.philmech.gov.ph)
Sa tamang proseso, tiyak ang asenso!