Philippine university to deliver scholarship program with IRRI

An agreement was signed between Central Mindanao University (CMU) and IRRI on 19 July 2013 to deliver the Gawad Patnubay College Scholarship Program for deserving dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries, cooperatives, and local government units where the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) operates.

Healthier rice on agenda of Philippines food officials' visit

IRRI's healthier rice research leader
Gerard Barry (left) and Oscar Gutierrez (right)
of the FDA.

Senior representatives of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) visited IRRI Headquarters on 29 July 2013 for a briefing on the Institute’s research on healthier rice, including Golden Rice.

Philippine agriculture oversight team visits IRRI

Participants of the COCAFM briefing at IRRI

IRRI welcomed the members of the secretariat of the Philippines’ Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM), led by Executive Director Jocelyn Rodriguez-Badiola, on 18 July 2013 for a briefing on the Institute’s research, specifically on healthier rice.

Ecological engineering data consolidated for planthopper project

The ADB-IRRI Rice Planthopper Project held its final data synthesis workshop to consolidate data on arthropod biodiversity collected from experiment sites in the past two years.

Bangladesh: First 5-ton flatbed dryer installed

Drying remains a key problem for farmers and other stakeholders in the rice postharvest chain in Bangladesh. To help overcome the problem, which is worst during the boro and aus (wet) harvest, a flatbed dryer was set up in the Jessore hub.

The establishment of the flatbed dryer was made possible through an agreement made in December 2012 between Ali Seed Farm and the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Bangladesh, under its postharvest component.

Women in rice farming to star at IRRI event

IRRI recognizes the crucial role of women in agriculture and food security, particularly in rice farming. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the Institute will be hosting Women in rice farming, an event that gives tribute to women and their contributions to rice production, on 8 August 2013 at IRRI Headquarters.

Healthier rice takes center stage at international rice festival

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI’s communication and partnerships head, opened the International Rice Festival
with representatives from the National Nutrition Council, PhilRice, Oxfam, Megaworld Lifestyle Centers.The opening program included a rice wine-toasting ceremony and a cultural performance from the Indak Lahi dance troupe.

In keeping with Nutrition Month and the National Year of Rice (NYR) celebrations in the Philippines, IRRI

partnered with Megaworld Corporation to stage the International Rice Festival at Eastwood Mall, Quezon City, on 26–28 July 2013.