LALA, Lanao del Norte—With Rice as one of the Banner Programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA), intensive research and development efforts and initiatives have been done to improve the technology on hybrid rice production and productivity to feed the growing population of the Filipinos.

Just last year, Secretary Emmanuel F. Pińol has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) that hybrid rice seeds must be planted in 1 million hectares of irrigated lands in its attempt to achieve rice self-sufficiency by the year 2019.

In support to this, as the extension arm of the DA, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) has made efforts to meet this goal through a three-day Training of Trainers on Hybrid Rice Production which was participated in by Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) assigned in rice areas.

The aforementioned activity aimed to equip participants on the latest technologies in hybrid rice production. For the past decades, hybrid rice proves to increase rice production and technology for rice production have contributed significantly toward improving food security, raising rice productivity including farmer’s income and provided more opportunities for employment.

The training which transpired on October 1-5, 2018 was intended to enhance the knowledge and skills of the AEWs in the LGU on up-to-date technologies and latest farming techniques on hybrid rice production. (with reports from Project Officer Marcus R. Rubin, Agriculturist I)