Negros Oriental - On April 18 – 29, 2022, a Training of Trainers on Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice, Seed Certification, and Farm Mechanization was conducted in Julsam Pension House, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. This is the second batch of the said training, where the first batch was held in Bohol.

Twenty-eight (28) participating farmers and agricultural extension workers (AEWs) from Gomentoc Valley Farm, Joeltess Organic Farm, CAGRI Complex Learning Farm, Ayungon, Bacong, Bais City, Bindoy (Payabon), City of Bayawan (Tulong), City of Tanjay, Jimalalud, Mabinay, Pamplona, Santa Catalina, Siaton, Valencia (Luzurriaga), and Zamboanguita in the province of Negros Oriental were able to complete the 12-day extensive training.

The training aims that the participants must be able to assist the implementation of the modified season-long Farmer Field School on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice Seeds. In the course of the twelve-day extensive training, participants learned about the sense of mission to help the farmers become competitive through RCEF; how to explain the concepts and principles of the PalayCheck System specifically on the production of high-quality inbred rice seeds; learn how to improve training management skills and knowledge on basic financial management.

A special session about Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture - Decision Support Tools (AMIA-DST) in farming activities was also introduced to the farmers. Here, they learned about the different weather information products that they could use in farming system.

Merigine C. Otara, Joemelyn A. Sumagang, Jonathan O. Sumagang, Ma. Pamela R. Macaambac, and Jorge Fat Trinidad of ATI RTC 7; Engr. Noel Benzon Hamor, Jenbee Guancia Dormido, Edgar S. Tenefrancia, Jr., Elijah T. Aseral, Doni Boy S. Gino, Valdimer Cayetano, Jezreel A. Didal of City Agriculture Office, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental; Christine Calamba of BPI-NSQCS in Ubay, Bohol; Roskie Ariola Gabutero of DA- LGU Bayawan City; Bienvenido D. Acabal Jr of DA-RFO 7, Maguikay, Mandaue City, Cebu; Rico Rommel A. Varquez of Department of Agriculture- Bohol APC, Dao District, Tagbilaran City; Francisco S. Yaeso, and Romely H. Alson of LGU-Bayawan City; and Dexter S. Puyat of PCIC-Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental shared their expertise on the topics discussed as resource persons.

“I am thankful that I have learned new things from this ATI organized training. I am going to relay all my learnings to our farmer-clients, so they too, will also learn new things related to farming,” said Japhet J. Tanasan of Joeltess Farm School – one of the training participants.

Should there be any clarifications or inquiries around this training, you may contact Jonathan O. Sumagang, Project Officer, through her email at jsumagang16@gmail.com.