The Rice Research Institute of the Department of Agriculture is the major government institution directly involved in rice research, primarily in increasing productivity through continuous development and deployment of high-quality varieties with varying maturity periods to suit different production conditions, acid-tolerant rice varieties, and varieties with added attributes such as disease and pest tolerance, designed to improve rice yields. The institute also has the mandate for research and extension activities for better crop protection and water and soil management technologies that can help improve yields.
The National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) under the Ministry of Science and Technology is also involved in rice research. Their Rice Program aims to increase the rice industry’s competitive capability throughout the production chain while reducing the environmental impact. Key operation plans include