Farmers and extension workers across the Philippines are reporting bigger harvests and advancing into key professional and leadership roles after completing training programs offered by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice).
Marking its 40th year, PhilRice’s programs—including the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and the Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS)—are transforming participants into not only more productive rice growers but also mentors, trainers, and resource persons guiding fellow farmers and institutions nationwide.
Nueva Ecija farmer Raflornito L. Blas credited the Farmer Field School and RCEF knowledge products for boosting his harvest from 2.4 to 10.2 tons per hectare—a 325% increase. “After completing the RCEF training programs and using the knowledge products, I did not only improve my rice productivity but also became a trainer, sharing my knowledge with farmers in nearby provinces,” he said.
Juniel G. Lucidos, who previously worked as a Rice Self-Sufficiency Officer, is now an associate professor and extension director at Romblon State University. He credited the Rice Specialists Training Course with strengthening both his technical expertise and leadership capacity. “The course exposed me to rice farming methods such as PalayCheck and Palayamanan, which now guide my work in strategic planning, teaching, and community extension,” he shared.
Since 2019, the RCEF Extension Program has trained more than 300,000 farmers, students, and extension partners, and distributed 14 million knowledge products—supporting improved farm productivity and science-based decision-making.
With the RCEF extension until 2031 under RA 12078, PhilRice expects more farmers and local institutions to sustain and scale their gains.
Under its Agriculture 4.0 strategy, PhilRice is integrating digital tools and modern teaching approaches to make learning more accessible, particularly for those with limited access to formal agricultural schooling. In 2024, more than 1,000 learners explored 360° virtual tours, nearly 3,000 participated in guided sessions, and over 116,000 tuned in to PalayAralan livestreams on crop management and digital decision-support tools.
By combining hands-on training with digital innovation, PhilRice is helping farmers increase yields while enabling participants to rise into professional and leadership roles—from trainers and mentors to extension directors and professors—proving that agricultural education can transform both fields and futures.
