ATI Ilocos Region Center Director Dr. Rogelio Evangelista addresses the participants of the Training of Trainers on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seeds, and Farm Mechanization. (photo by ATI Ilocos Region)
The implementing agencies of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Program (RCEF-RESP) continue to roll out activities for rice farmers nationwide.
These include school-on-the-air (SOA) programs, technical briefings, information caravans, information, education, and communication strategies, and various training activities.
To date, 4, 457 individuals have already completed the training of trainers (TOT) conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Centers (ATI-RTCs), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).
The TOTs were launched in 2019 but were postponed early this year due to the pandemic. However, with the increasing need for food security, RCEF-RESP implementing agencies integrated safety protocols to be able to continue training services for the target beneficiaries.
“This COVID-19 pandemic is a call for us to really transform the sector into a much more effective and accessible landscape and, consequently, ensure that no rice farmer is left behind,” ATI Director Alfredo Aton said.
ATI-RTCs have already conducted TOTs on High Quality Inbred Rice Seeds and Farm Mechanization through blended learning approach, integrating online lectures and take-home assignments among the participants. Lectures on various rice-related topics were complemented with hands-on activities on the use of rice farming machinery such as mechanical transplanter, hand tractor, and combine harvester.
Rice experts and other concerned focal persons were also tapped to equip the trainers with new knowledge and help them build their own network that will facilitate training of other rice farmers later on.
Meanwhile, SOA programs, online and radio-based information caravans, and technical briefings are also ongoing. RCEF also continues to support the enhancement of Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Centers in local government units located in the identified priority areas, as well as the establishment and enhancement of Farm Schools.
All of these efforts are poised to uplift the practices and lives of the farmers towards cultivating rice security. Agriculture Secretary William Dar has continuously pushed for the need to support the development of rice farmers to pave way for “available, affordable, accessible, safe and nutritious rice for the Filipinos.”