LUCENA CITY, Quezon – To attain more reliable reporting, the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) CALABARZON continued the “Regional Rollout for the Use of Outcome-based Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Tool (4DFarms)” held at Ouan’s The Farm Resort in this city, from September 10-13, 2024.
The agency trained 20 rice technicians and local farmer technicians/farmer presidents from the first and second districts of Quezon on utilizing the MEL tools for more effective and easier monitoring and evaluation of the recommendations from the Rice Crop Manager (RCM).
During the four-day training, the participants were equipped with knowledge and skills in sampling of respondents, MEL tools demonstration, and data management process through lectures and hands-on exercises.
Mr. Jeero Owen Humarang (DA-Regional Field Office IV-A) and Mr. Angelo Hernandez (DA-ATI CALABARZON) served as resource persons for the training.
Aside from lectures, the participants visited Brgy. Wakas in Tayabas City to interview local farmers and gather data for the RCM Advisory Service (RCMAS).
“Mahalaga pong yakapin na nating mga magsasaka ang technology para makasabay sa ibang bansa. Dapat ding hikayatin natin ang mga farmer na mag-bookkeeping para mas madali sa ating mga technician ang monitoring,” said Benzon Celemen, a farmer participant from Tiaong, Quezon.
The 4DFarms’ MEL tools serve as a digital instrument for DA’s Rice Program to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions for farmers. The intensive training with hands-on exercises on the random sampling procedure and the use of MEL tools will help ensure quality information for analysis and reporting.
News by: Archie Linsasagin
