Written by the Web Team
An expert of Japan-Philippines technical cooperation project had introduced a technique that aims to efficiently disseminate agricultural technologies in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). 
Dr. Hideyuki Kanamori, senior advisor of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), trained 35 ARMM-based extension workers on Process Description (PD) method in a recent training of trainers (TOT) series.
The training, co-implemented by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Midsayap, North Cotabato, is part of the technical cooperation project called Rice-based farming technology project for ARMM. To be implemented until 2017, the project is JICA’s second five-year endeavour to improve agriculture production in the area.
“PD is a technology transfer method used in producing operation manual and audio-visual aids, in which photos or drawings are traced over instructional poster, leaflet, or photo slides. This is good in showing series of activities,” Kanamori said.
Banking on JICA’s experience, Kanamori said PD is an efficient tool to teach modern cultivation farm techniques as it is easy to apply and its products are usually low-cost and could serve as farmers’ quick reference.
Applying the method during the training, TOT participants documented steps on some modern farm practices such as rice seedling preparation, tray seeding of vegetable seeds, and trellis preparation. Not more than two good quality pictures were selected for each step. The printed photos were then traced to draw the scenes to be included in the poster and leaflet.
Participant Antonio N. Locson, 56, said using PD in producing poster and leaflet is enjoyable as it involves drawing, tracing, and coloring.
“The poster and leaflet are very useful in promoting knowledge to the farmers. Ideas and technologies are easier to grasp and follow through simple illustrations than when listening to lengthy lectures,” Locson said.
The instructional posters produced during the training will be displayed at Palayamanan or diversified integrated rice-based farming system model farms and will be used as visual aids in introducing the technology to the farmers.
Meanwhile, the leaflets or posters’ reduced copies will be given to farm visitors and distributed during Farmer Field School, field days, technical briefings, and other extension activities.
