Participants of the Modified Farmers’ Field School at Vrotmil Farms in South Cotabato complete their hands-on activities while following safety protocols. (photo by ATI SOCCSKSARGEN)
DILIMAN, Quezon City—Over 18,360 farmers have now been trained through the Farmers’ Field School (FFS) under the Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
This was reported during the RCEF-RESP team meeting conducted virtually on September 9, 2020. These farmers received training at different Farm Schools starting 2019 and were supported through scholarship vouchers as part of the program.
FFS activities nationwide are spearheaded by Farm School operators accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and supported by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, and other concerned offices of the Department of Agriculture. These are aimed at equipping farmers and farmworkers with knowledge and skills on the latest rice farming technologies.
To date, there are 407 operational Farm Schools nationwide, 40 of which were established in 2019 and 13 more this year. Meanwhile, over 120 Farm Schools are yet to be established strategically in different regions to accommodate more beneficiaries.
Michael Lumas-i of the Bacayan Rice-Based Integrated Farm in Kalinga is among the FFS trainees. He said that the training has given farmers an opportunity to learn new farming techniques, including the use of new farm machineries, and has facilitated the sharing of farming experiences among the participants.
“Most importantly, the FFS is an effective tool in strengthening community relations. Through the FFS, both the facilitators and the participants have increased their capacity to listen to the opinion of others. Thus, farmers are given hope by increasing their self-confidence in farming,” he added.
Apart from the FFS activities, the RCEF-RESP team meeting also served as an avenue to revisit program targets for 2021. ATI Regional Training Centers were, likewise, able to share the approaches they used to implement rice-related extension activities in line with the new normal protocols.
Other activities being conducted under the RCEF-RESP are distance learning initiatives such as school-on-the-air and blended learning modes for the training of specialists, trainers, farmers, seed growers, and members of cooperatives/associations.