LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – The Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII conducted a three-day Intensive Training of Trainers on Rice Crop Manager (RCM) Advisory Services last January 26-28, 2021.

This is to enhance the capacity of selected 27 individuals from the Local Government Units (LGUs), Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS), and ATI staff to operate, use, and train others on the upgraded RCM Advisory Service.

Participants were able to operate the RCM Registration, register and verify the account in the RCM Training Registration; operate the latest version of RCM online and offline mode; print the one-page RCM recommendation from a laptop, tablet, or smartphone; explain RCM questions and recommendations generated from a farmer interview; operate the RCM FFR, successfully register, update FFR registration, and GPX track; and explain the RCM Advisory Service and its complementary tools.

Lectures on the first day were done online via zoom. The second day was at ATI-RTC XIII hall while the third day was allotted for hands-on activities held in Barangay Sto. Niño, Butuan City where participants were able to interview farmers, generate fertilizer recommendations and produced the farmers’ ID for RCM use.

The resource persons were Fil Victor Babanto from ATI, Gerlie B. Antipaso and Reynan P. Mamalis from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga Region.

“I think and I believe that RCM Advisory Service will be a successful one because this is very helpful in the long run, with the guidance of the ATI team and if other LGUs would realize it. At the end of the day, it is always the best feeling for us if we see our farmers smiling with hope and joy in their hearts longing for good results in their farms with the RCM fertilizer recommendation in their hands,” said Ryhamae Abagail A. Mira, Agricultural Aide from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur.