Investment in PhilRice was money well spent – study
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) was worth the amount invested on it, according to a team of experts who conducted an external review of the institute’s impact in the past 10 years.
The team consisted of retired IRRI deputy director general Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo, former UP
In their report, the team said PhilRice made an impact early on even without having any technological innovation of its own to speak of. Its presence was felt by going into extension activities disseminating knowledge and transferring technological know-how.
PhilRice used existing knowledge and production technologies from the Bureau of Plant Industry, UP Los Banos and International Rice Research Institute while it was developing new knowledge and technologies of its own.
“With dynamic leadership, competent and highly committed staff, and generous support and inspiration from top management, the PhilRice technology transfer program hit the ground running,” the team reported. “Its prominent activities were training, on-farm technology development, and communication and knowledge dissemination through publications.”
The team noted that the impact of PhilRice, which was created by executive order in 1986, started at an early stage of its development.
By 1991-92 the scientific and extension communities started to notice the research and development capabilities with the release of some varieties which it had tested nationwide. Coupled with these varieties were the best practices in the growing of these varieties which came out from its agronomic research.
“Through the years PhilRice has contributed to increase national rice production, farm level productivity, and more income for farmers and better resource utilization,” the team added.
They said the socio-economic impact of PhilRice was driven by improved inbred varieties, hybrid varieties, improved crop management practices, and cost-reduction and increased-efficiency technology. – Sosimo Ma. Pablico
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