Thirty-one rice farmers from various farmers’ associations in Baler, Aurora successfully completed the Training on Thriving Ecosystems: Integrated Climate Adaptation, Disaster Resilience, and Nutrient-Pest Risk Management Advisory – RCMAS (Batch 2). The training was conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute – Central Luzon (ATI-CL) from May 25 to 29, 2026, in Baler, Aurora.
The initiative was made possible through the partnership of ATI-CL, DA-RFO 3, and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Baler. It aimed to promote the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Services (RCMAS), a digital platform that provides farmers with tailored recommendations based on their actual field management practices.
Topics discussed during the five-day training included the use of GPS devices for field mapping and monitoring, step-by-step guidance on accessing the Rice Crop Manager (RCM), and an introduction to digital literacy.
Although most participants were new to digital tools and modern agricultural technologies, the training equipped them with practical knowledge on how to use RCM to monitor rice fields, improve harvests, and manage farm inputs more efficiently.
The resource persons included Amelita Quinsay Londonio, Agriculturist II from DA-RFO 3, and Bryan Retiro Cruz, Science Research Specialist II, also from DA-RFO 3. They shared valuable insights on the integration of RCM, climate adaptation strategies, and pest-risk management in rice farming.
In his message, Aldrin John Villas, Technical Support Staff I from ATI-CL, emphasized that the training was not only about technology adoption but also about empowering farmers to become more resilient and adaptive in the face of climate change and production challenges through the use of modern technologies and online agricultural services.
Meanwhile, Gino C. Arenas expressed his gratitude for the training and emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge gained beyond the seminar in actual farming practices and sharing it with fellow rice farmers.
“I learned how to use GPS for farm measurement, RCM, and its various applications. We will share the knowledge we gained with our fellow farmers,” said Gino C. Arenas of the Buhangin Rice Farmers Association.
The training is envisioned as a stepping stone for rice farmers in Baler to embrace modern technologies that can lead to improved harvests, reduced production costs, climate-resilient farming practices, and the digital empowerment of local rice farmers’ associations.
Written By. Myrell S. Labrador
