About 60,000 copies of primer and leaflets were received by the farm schools and farm organizations under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) in Region 2 and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).
Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) in San Mateo, Isabela reached 38 farm schools through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and 26 farmer-organizations.
Recipients received PalayCheck System primers and Gabay sa Makabagong Pagpapalayan leaflets, which served as guides of farmers in modern rice production.
The organizations also received farm machines from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
“Our farmer-members are now starting to adopt the recommendations printed in the knowledge products. We’re happy to receive these materials printed in Filipino,” said Basilio C. Calimag, chairman of Enrile Farmers Credit Cooperative in Enrile, Cagayan.
The RCEF-RESP is a component of Republic Act 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law signed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, which allots P10 billion fund every year for the rice farmers. Sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar, the program is a six-year government initiative to help the farmers compete in the international rice market. The local government units and lawmakers assist in its implementation.
The program is implemented by DA-PhilRice, PhilMech, Agricultural Training Institute, and TESDA.
