MADRID, Surigao del Sur — To safeguard local rice production and boost farmers' incomes, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII), in partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Office of Madrid, conducted a one-day rice techno forum on May 6, 2026, in Barangay Linibunan.

A total of 32 rice farmers and Barangay Agricultural Workers (BAW) from various barangays of Madrid participated in the rice techno forum. Municipal Agriculturist Engr. Abigail T. Tupas thanked the farmers for attending this opportunity to learn new updates about pest and disease management. She also thanked ATI and the OPAG-Surigao del Sur for their support.

Mary Grace B. Salve, MPS II/Project Officer emphasized that the activity aimed to help farmers better identify pests and diseases, apply effective control methods, and adopt preventive practices to enhance their harvest and income.

Engr. Tupas discussed the concepts, principles and importance of Integrated Pest Management. Ms. Sol A. Gualde, Senior Agriculturist from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Surigao del Sur, discussed common rice insect pests and strategies for their management. Ms. Anna Noreen M. Hernane, Agricultural Technologist/OPAG-Surigao del Sur, presented and explained common rice diseases and their management. In addition, Ms. Sophia Jadassah Moleta introduced modern agricultural applications that can help farmers improve farm management, productivity, and decision-making.  These include Rice Knowledge Bank, MOET APP, Binhing Palay, and e-Learning, among others.