RCM prime movers from Caraga attend the Field Day in PhilRice, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija last September 26, 2018. At the background is a rice paddy art featuring the face of Pinoy’s pride, Senator Manny Pacquiao.
CENTRAL & SOUTHERN LUZON, Philippines – Twenty prime movers of the Rice Crop Manager (RCM) advisory service in Caraga region recently visited the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, CALABARZON and Metro Manila for a benchmarking mission last September 24-28, 2018.
The prime movers, composed of agricultural extension workers and staff from DA-RFO 13 and ATI-Caraga, went to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna; ATI Central Office in Quezon City, Metro Manila; and several institutions in Muñoz City such as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT) and Central Luzon State University (CLSU).
The participants of the benchmarking tour were able to grasp a fuller understanding of the effectivity of RCM as a comprehensive decision support for increasing yields and income of farmers in the Philippines. Through their experience, they were updated on the next steps in RCM, enhanced their knowledge and capabilities, and clarified on common issues and concerns raised by agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farmers in the field.
The RCM advisory service is a web-based platform that consolidates RCM and complementary decision-making tools and services into one integrated advisory and information service for rice-based farming in the Philippines.