The participants undergo a hands-on activity for pest and diseases identification at the PhilRice Research Area during the training. (Photo by ATI-RTC II)
SAN MATEO, Isabela – The Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center II (ATI-RTC II) resumes its first batch of Training of Trainers (TOT) on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seeds, and Farm Mechanization under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
The five-day training, scheduled on June 22-26, 2020 at the ATI-RTC II complex, takes off from the first part of the TOT held last March 9 to 14 which was temporarily postponed due to COVID-19 lockdown measures.
The 30 participants of the training had undergone actual operations of rice machinery such as four-wheel tractor, rice seeder, walk-behind rice transplanter, and rice combine harvester at RAMIS Farm School in Marasat Grande, San Mateo, Isabela.
They also received an actual demonstration from ATI-RTC II Center Director Imelda Guillermo on Agro-Ecosystem Analysis during the first part of the said training.
“The implementation and practice of modernized inbred rice and farm mechanization levelled us up as farmers. The new techniques and practices that I have learned in this training will make us attain Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita,” said one of the participants, Dauphine Alviar, Learning Site Cooperator in Ballesteros, Cagayan.
The participants also took part in the rouging and actual pest and diseases identification as well as on Rice Morphology and Growth Stages at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Research Area. Similar activities were also held by other RTCs nationwide as part of the RCEF extension services which aim to capacitate rice farmers, cooperatives, and on increasing production with minimal cost.
This is in line with Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s message that through RCEF, "we hope to uplift the practices and lives of our farmers who are our main partners in achieving food security."
"Their success will pave the way for available, affordable, accessible, safe and nutritious rice for the Filipinos,” Dar added.
The second batch of the TOT on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seeds, and Farm Mechanization in Region II will take place on June 22 to July 3 while the third batch is set on August 3 to 14.