Continuing its commitment to upskilling rice farmers, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to train over 52,000 rice farmers and their family members in the country under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) scholarship program.
TESDA Director General, Secretary Suharto T. Mangudadatu, said that the agency has prioritized its agriculture courses because he believes that improving the skills of the nation’s farm workers will undoubtedly aid in achieving food security and sufficiency.
“We have always given focus on the agriculture industry in our scholarship offerings, and we will keep collaborating with public and private organizations to give our rice farmers access to skills development and employment possibilities,” the TESDA secretary emphasized.
The TESDA chief also noted that this initiative is part of the national government’s efforts to strengthen the country’s agriculture sector, particularly in rice production.
It can be recalled that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., during the ceremonial rice harvesting and distribution of various assistance in Candaba, Pampanga early this month, vowed a revitalized agriculture sector, in which farmers are equipped with modern agricultural knowledge and sufficient support from the government.
“Our cooperation in developing the agriculture sector is just one of the key steps toward building a New Philippines – where no one goes hungry, and everyone contributes to a more prosperous future,” the President said.
Under the Rice Liberalization Act, TESDA was tasked to provide training to rice farmers in the country under its extension services program, along with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development Mechanization (PhilMech), and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
In Sept. 2019, the agency released the implementing guidelines for the RESP, which will be implemented by its provincial and regional offices.
Under RCEF-RESP, TESDA offers courses such as Farm Field School on Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seed Certification and Farm Mechanization, Rice Machinery Operations, Drying and Milling Plant Servicing NC III, Agro-entrepreneurship NC II, Pest and Nutrients Management, and Digital Agriculture Course in the Farm Field School.
From 2020 to 2023, TESDA has trained more than 170,00 rice farmers nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Secretary urged the rice farmers in the country to take this opportunity to learn the new and better way of farming with the aid of science and technology.
“There are new developments in science and technology that our farmers can learn to help them increase their yield and reduce their cost. I am very optimistic that it is through these advancements that we can help the nation attain food security. I encourage all our rice farmers and their dependents across the country to take advantage and avail of our training programs under the RCEF-RESP,” Secretary Mangudadatu said.
