Availability and access to credible and updated information prove to be particularly crucial as this pandemic grinds on. But with or without pandemic, knowledge on rice production is important to sustain an efficient and productive rice industry.
Notwithstanding stringent health and safety protocols, various capacity enhancement initiatives were conducted by DA-PhilRice Midsayap for its staff members, rice farmers, and other rice stakeholders.
In August, 11 Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) coordinators and technology demonstration officers underwent a refresher course on the PalayCheck System to build their confidence in dealing with other extension workers and farmers.
Fifty-one RCEF personnel of DA-PhilRice Midsayap participated in the series of knowledge-sharing and learning (KSL) activities under the WokTok PalayCheck Challenge. The KSL allowed them to learn and be updated on integrated crop management system through mixed learning approaches.
The KSL employed hands-on activities, lectures, and focus group discussions. The RCEF Extension Component is also carrying out a season-long Farmer Field School (FFS) in Panicupan, Pikit, Cotabato from July to November for 32 farmer-beneficiaries.
This initiative is also in support of the agriculture sector, specifically the rice farmers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
RCEF Extension likewise diffuses knowledge on rice production by supplying knowledge products to school-on-the-air (SOA) farmer participants of the Agricultural Training Institute XII.
Some 1,200 copies of the Gabay sa Pagpapalayan and PalayCheck primers were distributed. These materials reinforce the learnings of the farmers from the SOA.
To further boost the rise of rice knowledge, the station also trained 21 new agriculture graduates through the Rice Boot Camp on the PalayCheck System. The Camp intends to encourage them to continue pursuing careers in agriculture and accumulate acumen and skills in rice farming for their future endeavors.
