Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank: transcending boundaries for fast and informed decision making

In support of the Philippine Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan (PRSSP), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) found it necessary to develop an online rice knowledge bank called PinoyRice to bring consistency to both hardcopy and electronic copies of rice production information and consolidate the most updated rice knowledge (PhilRice-IRRI R and D [research and development] Project Proposals in support of PRSSP, 2009). The rice stakeholders, wherever they are, deserve greater access to available outputs of our extensive research efforts. By optimizing the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), PhilRice and IRRI answer the clamor for more information and wide sharing of knowledge resources in rice science and development. The Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank or Pinoy Rice (www.pinoyrkb.com) serves as a one-stop information source on Philippine rice production mainly featuring PhilRice's PalayCheck System. This website offers practical strategies and scientific principles that extension workers can download and share to farmers. PinoyRice currently contains the following: rice handouts, broadcast releases, rice facts and figures, maps, frequently asked questions, technology videos, rice audio clips, rice recipes, agricultural e-dictionary, photos and illustrations, farmers' success stories, list of available seed at PhilRice and knowledge products for sale, training announcements, format of rice production plan and proposal, and directories of seed growers, rice specialists, and provincial agriculturists, among other. Moreover, results of field trials in Location Specific Technology Development sites all over the country are made available on PinoyRice. Key Checks and rice handouts are in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, and Iluko languages. PinoyRice is being developed into an effective tool that will help extension workers all over the country to facilitate farmers' learning processes in the field. Aside from content development, which is currently being done, studies will also be conducted to capture the effect of PinoyRice to rice stakeholders' capacity development.