Sri Lankan rice research and extension officers, and subject matter specialists are being trained online on the PalayCheck System for irrigated lowland rice.

PalayCheckis an integrated crop management system for transplanted and direct wet-seeded irrigated lowland rice farming. It promotes localization of relevant technologies and crop management options through collaborative and experiential group learning with farmers to improve productivity and profitability in an environment-friendly manner.

In partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (DFA-TCCP), 30 key staff members from regional rice R&D centers and stations, schools of agriculture, and training centers across Sri Lanka started their online training on March 24. It is conducted for 4-hours every Tuesdays and Thursdays until June 24.

“The course aims to enhance the participants’ knowledge and skills on the production of high-quality inbred rice and seeds and farm mechanization, including how to teach farmers in their areas of coverage,” said Lea dR. Abaoag, training coordinator.

Shobini Gunasekera, Sri Lanka Ambassador to PH, said that paddy cultivation is deeply permeated in all aspects of the history, culture, and way of life of Sri Lankans, but the country is now importing rice to satisfy its demand.

“This training program is a vital platform for [Sri Lanka] to explore beneficial innovations in increasing the yield on rice cultivation. I encourage the participating Sri Lankan stakeholders to take this opportunity to learn the Philippines’ best practices and system, and explore how we can integrate them in our initiatives to develop our own industry,” Gunasekera said.

Lilybeth R. Deapera, DFA-TCCP director general, said that this training program happened two years after the Sri Lankan government requested the Philippines to identify areas where it could provide assistance. [with reports from Ev P. Angeles]

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Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

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Philippine Rice Research Institute