The Certification Assessment of Rice Machinery Operation (RMO) National Certificate (NC) II was held last October 12-14, 2017 at Bohol Experimental Station (BES), Gabi, Ubay, Bohol. Prior to the assessment, two (2) batches of training course on Farm Machinery Operations for Agricultural Engineers were recently held last July and August this year, however, due to the unavailability of the TESDA assessor the activity was moved to this date.
A total of 53 graduates composed of Agricultural Engineers, Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization (AFMECH) focal, Faculty members, Agricultural technicians coming from LGUs and attached agencies from Region VII attended the assessment. Qualification in the acquisition of the NC II on RMO includes the certificate of the 2 batches of Training Course on Farm Machinery Operations as proof to be one of the participants.
The training aims to capacitate the participants to be effective partners in developing and mechanizing the agriculture and fishery sectors to be healthy and responsible citizenry especially among the farming families. This is also in view of the Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization (AFMech) Law implementation which is believed to help farmers increase farm production and income. It has been known that the modernization of agriculture through mechanization is seen as a mechanism to improve efficiency of production and to promote cost-effective technologies thereby enhancing the meager farm income.
Participants were able to pass the competencies in basic driving, agricultural machineries and equipment operation, spraying and others. Machineries and equipment used were four-wheel tractors, two-wheel tractors, hand tractor, combine harvester and rice transplanter among others.
ATI-7 initiated the training with Engr. Rizaldy Mercadal as facilitator. Assessors from CARAGA region, as it is the only nearest TESDA accredited center for Rice Machinery Operations, were: Engr. Greg Cubio of Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology, Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Engr. Matt Bacquiano of ATI CARAGA and Engr. Jeffrey Bagasbas of CARAGA State Univeristy, Butuan City.