BUTUAN CITY – The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 successfully conducted the Information Caravan on Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur.

A total of 1,432 participants comprising farmers, farmers’ cooperative and Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) who engage irrigated and rainfed rice production attended in the briefing.

The information caravan on RCEF aims to increase the production and profit of the farmers at the same time awareness on the Rice Tariffication Law. The funds that are allocated through RCEF as well as the privileges and benefits that the farmers can avail are presented during the caravan. This will also help them to become globally competitive in the world market.

RCEF implementing agencies presented their respective roles in line with the four components of the program. These include Rice farm machinery and equipment, Rice seed development, propagation, and promotion, Expanded rice credit assistance; and Rice extension services.

Partner Agencies included Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

An open forum followed right after the presentation for the clarification of information that are essential for the beneficiaries of the program. The basic requirements for the individual farmers and farmer groups were highlighted during the event, specifically the farmer’s registration to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The said activity was spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 through Information Services Section (ISS) with Section Chief Fil Victor A. Babanto as Project Officer.