LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – In a joint effort to advance digital agriculture and strengthen science-based rice extension services in the country, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) conducted the Training of Trainers on CLeveR: Cluster-Based RCMAS Recommendation for Digital Extension from June 23 to 25, 2026, at the Umali Conference Room, IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

The three-day capacity-building activity brought together representatives from ATI Regional Training Centers (RTCs), particularly from the Partnership and Accreditation Services (PAS) and Information Services Section (ISS), alongside participants from PhilRice and the Department of Agriculture–National Rice Program (DA-NRP). The training aimed to prepare extension professionals to implement and cascade CLeveR (Cluster-level Recommendations), an enhanced feature of the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS) that streamlines the generation of nutrient management recommendations for rice farmers.

Maria Den Parro, Agriculturist II, and Ressell Angelie Fetalsana, Information Officer II, represented the ATI–Regional Training Center XIII and joined fellow extension practitioners in enhancing their technical knowledge and facilitation skills in the use of the CLeveR platform.

Developed through the collaborative efforts of ATI, IRRI, and PhilRice, CLeveR is designed to make digital advisory services more efficient by shifting from individual farm assessments to cluster-based recommendations. Instead of interviewing every rice farmer separately, extension workers can group farms with similar field conditions and crop management practices into clusters, allowing them to generate science-based fertilizer recommendations for multiple farmers simultaneously. This approach improves the efficiency of extension services, particularly during peak planting seasons when timely advisory support is most needed.

Throughout the training, participants explored the concepts and workflow of the CLeveR system through lectures, demonstrations, simulations, and hands-on exercises. They learned how to identify field clusters, navigate the platform, generate nutrient management recommendations, and utilize digital mapping tools to validate clustered rice fields. A highlight of the activity was the field practicum, during which participants interviewed farmer leaders to validate field information, identify appropriate clusters, and generate fertilizer recommendations using the CLeveR platform.

On the final day, participants developed regional implementation and cascading plans to facilitate the adoption of the CLeveR module in their respective areas. Discussions also featured emerging AI-powered digital advisory initiatives and explored opportunities to further integrate innovative technologies into rice extension services.