Fifteen new inbred rice varieties were approved for commercial release in December 2021 by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC).

Eight among these are PhilRice-bred: three for irrigated lowland (NSIC Rc 622, Rc 624, and Rc 626,) and five special-purpose pigmented non-glutinous (NSIC Rc 638 SR, Rc 640 SR, Rc 642 SR, Rc 644 SR, and Rc 646 SR). The other seven are IRRI-bred: five are for irrigated lowland (NSIC Rc 628, Rc 630, Rc 632, Rc 634, and Rc 636), one zinc-biofortified (Rc 648), and one for rainfed lowland (Rc 650).

“With these new rice varieties, we are providing more options to farmers as to what variety is most suited to their farms’ conditions so they can further increase their production and achieve the best quality of their produce,” Dr. Oliver E. Manangkil of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) said.

These new varieties will be introduced to farmers through techno-demo farms under the various extension programs of DA-PhilRice and its branch stations.
Source: PhilRice