Isandra Pernitez, a former social worker from Lanao del Norte, has made a career shift to agriculture, becoming a farm trainer under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP).  With a background in assisting typhoon victims through various non-governmental organizations, Pernitez has now channeled her skills into empowering rice farmers and promoting agricultural development. Pernitez discovered her passion for rice farming in 2022 while working with […]

The Katipunan Magading Farmers’ Association (KAMAFA) in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, has seen significant growth following the completion of specialized training under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services (RCEF RESP) program.  Milona B. Villanueva, KAMAFA chair, reported that association members have increased their average rice harvest from 6t/ha to 9t/ha. Villanueva attributes this 3t/ha improvement to the adoption of synchronous planting following a 30-day rest period and Minus-One-Element […]

Farmers in Lanao del Norte who had previously abandoned rice farming due to significant yield losses are now looking forward to improved harvests, thanks to the efforts of a graduate from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Service Program (RCEF RESP). Queenie R. Notario, owner of a farm school in Bacolod, has begun planning outreach to these farmers.  “My mission is to restore their faith in rice farming. I […]

The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Rice Extension Services Program has actively involved the younger generation in agriculture, including Joseph Mantatao from Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. “I have enjoyed helping my parents on the farm since I was 16 years old. I’m now managing our 0.6-ha rice field after my mother’s demise. I’m grateful that RCEF is helping me become a better farmer,” the 23-year-old rice grower said. In the […]

Farmers in Davao Oriental and Butuan City have increased their harvests through seed and training interventions from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Ramil Doronila, rice farmer from Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, increased the yield in his 1.5ha from almost 4t/ha to more than 5t/ha. For three seasons, he planted NSIC Rc 480, Rc 506, and Rc 216, which he received from the RCEF Seed Program. These varieties are also […]

Agricultural extension workers and farm school trainers from Northern Mindanao vowed to share the new knowledge they gained from  the training of trainers on pest and nutrient management in rice in Lala, Lanao del Norte, Nov. 14-18. Vaniza B. Cambonga, Farmer Field School (FFS) trainer said that  aside from the technical aspects of pest and nutrient management, the training helped her in effectively teaching the rice farmers. “Farmers already have […]

New crop specialists. Knowledge of 30 farmers in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte was enhanced after attending a course on pest and nutrient management in rice, Nov 7-11 . They learned about the use of attractants and the agro-ecosystem analysis or a way of understanding the interactions of the different factors in the field, which are directly and indirectly affecting the growth and development of the crop. The training is […]

Rice-based agroenterprises particularly local milled rice are profitable due to their 10-20% return on investment. This was emphasized to Agusan farmers during the Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Exposition (ASPIRE) Trade Fair 2022 themed “Strengthening Digital Marketing Towards Agribusiness Prosperity: Eat Local, Buy Local,” in Butuan City on Sep. 2-4. Sonny Jay Acosta, agroenterprise development facilitator of RiceBIS Agusan Project, said that “there is money in farming, […]

The use of Minus-One Element Technique (MOET), a farmer-friendly and quick soil analysis kit, added 20 cavans (62kg/cavan) to the harvest of a farmer in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. Ryan F. Alvar usually harvests 35 cavans (62kg/cavan) from his 0.8-ha field. When he applied his learnings on the use of MOET from the PalaySikatan, a technology demonstration farm established by DA-PhilRice Agusan under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed […]

Training the rice specialists so they can help farmers become more competitive is one of the objectives of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Rice Extension Services Program. With rice specialists becoming more competent, fully equipped, and having the heart to help farmers, the country’s rice industry can flourish. Wilmar Ompoc, one of the Rice Specialists’ Training Course (RSTC) trainees, has always been eager to acquire knowledge to manage […]