Farmers in remote areas of Isabela and Abra reported higher yields after integrating modern rice-farming apps in their production activities through the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute’s short course on pest and nutrient management (PNM) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF RESP).
The training focused on managing two of the most critical factors that diminish rice production: pest damage and improper fertilizer use. The Institute introduced apps such as the ‘Binhing Palay’ app that could help farmers choose varieties resistant to different pests, and the eDamuhan app that recognizes weed images and provides descriptions with recommendations on how to manage them.
The MOET app, which helps farmers compute the appropriate fertilizer requirement and even predict rice yield, was also introduced to the course enrollees.
Flority L. Viloria, 57, of Dinapigue, Isabela, saw her yield rise from 1-2t to 2.7t on her 0.4-ha farm. She attributed the gain to improved fertilizer timing and application, along with new skills in identifying and managing common pests.
“Training opportunities are limited and rarely reach our area, so I’m thankful to DA-PhilRice for coming here. I hope there will be more training, especially for our young farmers,” Viloria said, appreciating that the Institute travelled all the way to their municipality, located 181km southeast of Santiago City, to train them in rice farming.
Similarly, Jeffrey Lloyd Q. Quintinita, 34, from Sallapadan, Abra, increased his yield from over a ton to 2.4t on his 0.6-ha farm. “After the training, I learned about the Right EAT—Right Element, Amount, and Timing in fertilizer application. EAT is easy to remember, and now I know how to apply fertilizer properly,” he said.
His town of Sallapadan is tucked in the uplands near Mt. Province.
Farmers were also given the Minus-One-Element Technique Kit, a soil diagnostic tool developed by the Institute to help farmers identify nutrient deficiencies in their soil. Leaf Color Charts that assess the nitrogen needs of rice plants were also provided.
Beneficial organisms in the field were likewise introduced to help farmers control notorious rice pests.
From 2019 to 2024, RCEF Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) trained 151 farmers and extension workers—84 men and 67 women—from Isabela, Quirino, Abra, and Ifugao. Participants were members of farmers’ cooperatives and associations, as well as local agricultural workers.