TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite - 300 farmers are expected to receive their field recommendation for rice production this coming cropping season. The ATI Region IV-A started to conduct Enriching Rice Farming Productivity and Profitability: Rice Crop Manager (RCM) Briefings. There are six batches to be conducted that will also provide collaboration with the Enhanced FITS Centers for RCM services.

RCM is an application that could be accessed via smartphone or a computer with Internet connection. It allows extension officers to give farmers a specific recommendation on nutrient, pest, weed, or water management, depending on the farmer’s specific variety used, his yield from the previous season, and the site-specific conditions of the field. Through improved crop and nutrient management, RCM aims to add 300kg of unmilled rice to each crop per season, per hectare.

The briefings started last May 11 and May 15, 2018 in Teresa, Rizal and Lucena City, Quezon, respectively. The remaining batches will be conducted in Tanza, Cavite, Tanay, Rizal and Pangil and Siniloan in Laguna Province.