Continuing its commitment to upskilling rice farmers, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to train over 52,000 rice farmers and their family members in the country under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) scholarship program. TESDA Director General, Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu, said that the agency has prioritized its agriculture courses because he believes that improving the skills of the nation’s farm workers […]

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, commended PhilRice as she graced the 2023 RCEF Seed and Extension Programs Annual Review on Feb. 6-8, in Nueva Ecija. She strongly supports an extension of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to continue providing crucial support to local farmers. Villar emphasized the need for sustained efforts to increase rice output per hectare and reduce production costs under the Rice […]

In line with the administration’s ongoing thrust for a thriving agriculture sector, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has provided training to more than 56,000 rice farmers and their dependents in 2023. TESDA Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu said that 56,654 rice farmers and their family members completed various agriculture and agriculture-related courses offered by the agency under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) scholarship program. […]

Farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) have achieved gains from its programs’ services including provision of certified seeds, training, and communication support. In the programs’ review being held at DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) on Feb. 6-8, implementers reported that seed recipients increased their average yield as shown in the midterm and seasonal monitoring and evaluation surveys conducted in the 42 original target provinces of the RCEF Seed […]

While other Bukidnon farmers had hesitated to plant because of the El Niño phenomenon advisory early this year, Leonilo Arcadio, 49, President of Cabanglasan Farmers Small Water Impounding System Association, Inc. (CAFSWISA) and his fellow members adjusted their planting calendar to assure that they would still have enough water supply should drought hex the province. It may seem a gamble at first glance, but the SWISA acknowledges the harsh reality […]