LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Farm School owners under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program and representatives from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Laguna and Quezon were trained on Rice Crop Manager (RCM) Advisory Service (RAS).

The “Regional Training of Trainers on Rice Crop Manager (RCM) Advisory Service (RAS)” was intended to create a pool of trainers to handle basic trainings on the use of RCM, including generation of its recommendation.

A web-based platform created by IRRI, RCM is a modern precision farming application which provides rice farmers with personalized crop and nutrient recommendations, matching their location-specific rice-growing conditions.

The recommendations provided to farmers through RCM are intended to increase their net by PhP 4,500.00 per hectare per crop, while also increasing rice production through the attainment of higher yields.

As part of their re-entry plans, the pool of trainers, specifically the RCEF Farm School owners are expected to generate these recommendations during the implementation of their Farmers’ Field School (FFS) sessions.

Ms. Suzette Panopio from DA-RFO, together with Mr. Angelo Pabilonia and Mr. John Mark Vincent Pasang of DA-RARES served as the resource speakers who guided the participants about the features of RCM and the importance of using GPS measurement in providing RCM recommendation.

The training was held last September 21-24, 2020 in this municipality. (With reports from: Hans Christopher Flores)