Members of the Rice Achievers Awards Technical Working Group evaluate the presentations and the submitted scrapbooks of the participating provinces. (photo by Patty Rodriguez)
MALATE, Manila—Local government representatives of 21 provinces in different parts of the country shared their best practices and accomplishments in developing their respective rice industries as they convened during the Technical Paper Presentation for the 2019 Rice Achievers Awards (RAA).
The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), facilitated the activity as part of the 2019 RAA selection process. Here, provincial agriculturists of the qualified local government units (LGUs) showcased notable rice production projects and interventions.
The presentations included industry-related information in their respective provinces, agricultural land area, resources, and population; rice situation for the past five years including cost of production; rice roadmaps; budgetary allocation, manpower, seed utilization, and support to rice production; as well as projects initiated by the DA in their locality.
Moreover, the provincial agriculturists shared their respective undertakings that prompted success in rice production, which include rice farming technologies and innovations; industry research, development, and extension; climate change adaptation strategies; convergence initiatives related to crop production; and support to buffer stocking.
The RAA Technical Working Group evaluated the presentations and the submitted scrapbooks of the participating provinces based on the criteria of the awards. The group is composed of representatives from concerned offices, attached agencies, and bureaus of the Department such as the National Rice Program, Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division, Bureau of Agricultural Research, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, Philippine Rice Research Institute, as well as the Philippine Statistics Authority.
ATI Director Alfredo Aton, together with some Regional Training Center directors, graced the activity held last March 9-13 in the said city.