PANGANTUCAN, BUKIDNON – Strengthening the resilience of local rice production against a changing climate, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X), in partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Pangantucan conducted the Thriving Ecosystems: Integrated Climate Adaptation, Disaster Resilience, and Nutrient-Pest Risk Management Advisory-RCMAS for the first batch of participants on April 21-22, 2026.
The activity gathered 35 dedicated rice farmers from selected farmers' associations across the municipality. The primary goal was to provide these food producers with data-driven agricultural advice to mitigate the risks posed by unpredictable weather patterns, pests, and soil nutrient depletion.
Through the activity, 48 site-specific recommendations were generated using the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS). This higher number of recommendations reflects the diverse holdings of the participants, as several farmers registered and received scientific guidance for more than one farm lot.
Another highlight of the event was the deployment of the Agri Extension on Wheels, a mobile service unit that brought digital agricultural tools and technical expertise directly to the site. This initiative ensured that the farmers had immediate access to information and modern farming technologies without having to travel far.
To further support the adoption of these new strategies, the participants also received fertilizer tokens. These tokens act as a subsidy to reduce costs and encourage farmers to follow their precise RCMAS nutrient guides, specifically for applications of their personalized recommendations.
During the program, Municipal Agriculturist Teodoro Quirante III warmly acknowledged the presence of the participants and emphasized the importance of food security at the household level. He reminded the farmers to balance profit with family needs, stressing that while market prices may be tempting, they must ensure a sufficient portion of their harvest is kept for their own families’ consumption rather than selling the entire yield when prices are high.
The successful completion of Batch 1 in Pangantucan marks another milestone for ATI-RTC X in its mission to build climate-smart and disaster-resilient farming communities through innovative, science-based extension services.
