STA.BARBARA, PANGASINAN – The Agricultural Training Institute- Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I), in parnership with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office I (DA-RFO I), successfully conducted the School on-the-Air on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) Ceremonial Graduation, with its theme, “Makabagong Pagsasaka sa Himpapawid”, on October 28, 2021 at the ATI-RTC I Multi-Purpose Hall, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. A total of 33 municipalities in region 1 attended the program with 3,164 confirmed farmer graduates via face to face and virtual zoom.
The activity aims to sustain and strengthen the support gained from our partners as well us to motivate the farmers through the awarding of cash prizes, plaques, and certificates for their efforts. SOA-SRA aims to help catalyze agriculture modernization through the massive and sustained education of smallholder farmers and local intermediaries on modern and innovative technologies and approaches on smart rice production.
For almost three (3) months, the farmers were able to learn and embrace the modernization and competitiveness of Philippine agriculture through cutting-edge technologies with the Palay Check System as overall platform in the broader context of climate change. Part of their learnings are pest management, and nutrition management, proper fertilizer application and harvest and post harvest management.
This shared responsibility and efforts were made possible through its implementers, the DA-RFO I, ATI-RTC I, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) in Region I, and other stakeholders .
Dr. William D. Dar, the DA Secretary, as the keynote speaker said, “Sa lahat ng ating mga magigiting na magsasaka na naglaan ng kanilang oras para makilahok sa SOA-SRA, gamitin ninyo ang mga bagong naiuwing kaalaman at kasanayan upang mas maging masagana pa ang inyong mga ani at tumaas pa ang inyong mga kita tungo sa pagtaas ng antas ng inyong pamumuhay”, challenged the farmers in his message.
He assures that the government will not stop and will continue to strive and support the farmers in empowering the country’s rice industry.