Agusan del Sur – Continuing its goal to strengthen the farm operation sector, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII conducted a Training on Rice Machinery Operation - Focused on Rice Transplanter Management and Maintenance on November 15-17, 2021 at Baucawe Diversified Farm, San Isidro, Bislig City.

It was participated by 17 farmers and operators. The three-day training aimed to develop the participants’ skills and knowledge on maintenance and management of mechanical rice transplanter and seedling preparation. Specifically, the activity demonstrated the effective and efficient way of seedling and land preparation, performed basic troubleshooting of mechanical rice transplanter, and highlighted the importance and benefits of the machine’s financial component.

Resource persons were Henry A. Jimenez, Science Research Specialist II from PhilRice Agusan Experiment Station; Art M. Dalman, Science Research Assistant from DA-PhilMech; Alvin C. Asuncion and Renante R. Abado both from Department of Agriculture – Caraga Region.

“Ako gayud nasabtan nga dako ang among makuha nga benepisyo, wala name gasto sa pag-ibot sa semilya. Madali ang pagtanom, gamay ang bayad, tipid sa kemikal. Sa tanan namo nakat-unan, dako kaayong tabang sa mga farmers labi na ang actual training (I really learned a lot especially the benefits that we gained through this training. Expenses will be lessened in terms of transplanting. It will be easier to sow the rice plant and there will be a decrease in the use of chemicals. We really learned a lot in this actual training),” said Elezer O. Zolina, one of the participants from Brgy. Panaosawon, Bayabas, Surigao del Sur.