Kremlin Del Castillo from PhilRice Technology Management Services Division discusses overview of the PalayCheck System.
MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija - The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) conducts a modified season-long Rice Specialist Training Course (RSTC) from April 29 – October 25, 2019 at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station, Science City of Muñoz.
The RSTC aims to develop a new generation of rice specialist who will then take charge in the full implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP). It is designed to hone not only the technical competencies of the trainees but also to fully equip them to be able to respond to the challenges of a more complex agricultural environment.
Administrative Officer I Lelit A. Mapula and Technical Staff Rejane M. Ata from the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 13 (ATI-RTC) 13 were among the 29 staff from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Offices and ATI-RTCs who successfully completed the first module of RSTC last April 29 – May 10, 2019.
There were discussions and group activities on transformational leadership and organizing farmers.
Kremlin Del Castillo from the PhilRice Technology Management Services Division discussed the overview of PalayCheck System while Chief Science Research Specialist Dr. Jesusa Beltran presented the rice situationer.
Generally, module 1 of RSTC aimed to ignite the passion of the trainees and strengthen their mission to assist and help farmers to become competitive. The trainees also visited successful rice farmers and associations within the province and noted their best farm practices and technologies.
As part of the RSTC, the trainees conducted ground working activities such as orientation, farmers’ interview, invitation and enrollment of farmer-participants in five barangays in the municipalities of Llanera and Rizal. This is in preparation for the conduct of Farmers Field School (FFS) which is a component of the RSTC.
The trainees are expected to complete the two remaining modules of the RSTC which will be on June 17 – August 23, 2019 and September 30- October 25, 2019, respectively. (with reports from Rejane Ata)