A five-day refresher course aimed in enhancing the skills and competencies of the RCEF Farmer Field School (FFS) implementers was conducted by the ATI-RTC 02 on May 20-24, 2024 at the Nueva Vizcaya Experiment Station (NVES). 

Thirty participants composed of farm school owners, trainers, facilitators, and Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) were equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitude to become more effective and competent trainers in the implementation of FFS on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice, Seed Certification, and Farm Mechanization. The training focused on the critical aspects of FFS such as Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA), nutrient and pest management, proper handling of pesticides and fertilizers, conducting crop cut and computation, and final analysis.
Experts from ATI-RTC 02, PhilRice Isabela, DA-RFO 02 Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) served as resource persons during the lecture and hands-on activities.

“Dahil sa refresher course na ito mas lalong nahasa ang aking kaalaman lalo na’t may mga batikan at magagaling na resource persons at sa tulong narin ng mga kapwa ko participants,” said Shiena Vidad, facilitator from Ease Integrated Farm in Claveria, Cagayan.

“I will sum-up this training by giving an acronym on the word Refreshed: Rice Expert, Enhanced communication skills, Find new friends, Recall, Enjoyable, Sociable, Healthy Food, Enable to answers tricky questions and Direct to the point,” added by Mark Lester Bagay, facilitator from Zion Integrated Farm School in Alicia, Isabela.

The training program is part of the Rice Extension Services Program of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF-RESP).