Rice Achievers Awards

The Rice Achievers Awards (RAA) is an annual event of the Department of Agriculture (DA) that recognizes the efforts of outstanding rice producers in the Philippines. It is a way of motivating and showing appreciation for institutions, groups, and individuals for their contributions in its food sufficiency thrust. Various award categories are at stake and the winners will be presented during the event.

These prestigious awards were first presented in May 2012 to the 2011 top 10 provinces, 50 municipalities/cities, and 500 agricultural extension workers (AEWs). The general criteria for nominees for the provincial winners are increase in rice grain yield, rice self-sufficiency, contribution to the national palay production, personnel and budget support to the rice program, applied research and technology verification projects undertaken with the farmers, use of high quality seeds (certified inbred and hybrid varieties), demonstration-promotion of new technologies, and measures that enhance farmer’s productivity and profitability in rice.

Over the years, the selection criteria have been revised based on the results of the many interventions of the DA National Rice Program. Moreover, awards for the best Small Water Irrigation System Associations supported by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and the Irrigators Associations supported by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) have been included.

The selection of the top provinces is undertaken by the Technical Working Group led by the Agricultural Training Institute with members from the DA-National Rice Program, DA-Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, BSWM, NIA, Bureau of Agricultural Research, Bureau of Plant Industry, National Food Authority, and Philippine Statistics Authority. The selection of outstanding municipalities/cities is undertaken by the DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs) while the AEWs are selected by the municipalities/cities with assistance from the DA-RFOs.

Most of the winners from 2011 to 2018 came from CAR, and Regions 1, 2, 3, 4B, 9, 10, and 11. Provinces that have won the awards for at least three times and up to six times are elevated to the Hall of Fame category, namely: CAR (Kalinga); Region 1 (Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan); Region 2 (Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya); Region 3 (Nueva Ecija and Bulacan); Region 4B (Occidental Mindoro); Region 9 (Zamboanga del Sur); Region 10 (Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte); and Region 11 (Compostela Valley and Davao Sur).

Later on, a separate award shall be designed for the provinces that are already elevated to the Hall of Fame category in accordance to this national target.

ATI Today

Extension services continue to evolve. With the challenges that extension workers and farmers face, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) continues to explore various strategies to improve its efforts as the extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture. In over 30 years, the ATI has celebrated various successes and learned from the lessons during hard times. Nonetheless, we are proud to be standing the test of time through the support of our partners and the clientele themselves. This is the ATI Today, more committed to bring you extension services beyond boundaries.