To speed up information dissemination on latest technologies on rice farming, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MiMaRoPa successfully conducted the first batch of School-on-the-Air on Smart Rice Agriculture (SOA-SRA) in the province of Occidental Mindoro.
The SOA-SRA dubbed as “Palay Aralan: Makabagong Pagsasaka sa Himpapawid” aims to help catalyze agriculture modernization through massive and sustained education of smallholder farmers and local intermediaries on modern and innovative technologies and approaches on smart rice production. Said program was aired twice a week for three months at 101.7 FM Radyo Natin San Jose every Monday and Wednesday, 12:00 NN – 1:00 PM; and 103.3 FM Radyo Natin Sablayan and Bambi FM 104.1 Mamburao, every Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 NN – 1:00 PM from April 5, 2021 to June 23, 2021.
After 22 airings, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office MiMaRoPa, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Regional Agriculture Fishery Council, Philippine Information Agency, Occidental Mindoro State College, Provincial Agriculture Office, and Municipal Agriculture Offices in Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan, Sablayan, Sta. Cruz, Abra De Ilog, and Paluan, the SOA-SRA concluded via radio broadcast on July 10, 2021, at 101.7 FM Radyo Natin San Jose, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM with 1,155 graduates.
On his message, Center Director Pat Andrew B. Barrientos of ATI-MiMaRoPa encouraged the graduates to apply what they have learned in the program. “Patuloy ang ATI sa pagbibigay ng programa para sa ating mga nagpapalayan. Makakaasa kayo na nandito lang kami para matulungan namin kayo para mapataas ninyo ang inyong ani. With the right technology, we could increase our rice production”, he said.
Moreover, the culmination activity was graced by the Provincial Agriculturist Sofronio V. Baranda and Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Jerry Laredo. On their message, they both expressed their congratulations to the SOA-SRA graduates. They both assured that the Office of the Provincial Agriculture and DA-RFO MiMaRoPa will continue to support ATI and its other partners to bring agricultural information closer to the farmers, especially during this pandemic.
Further, top ten outstanding students from the municipalities involved in the SOA program were recognized. Certificates and awards such as rice seeds, fertilizers, knapsack sprayer, and waway hat were awarded to the graduates and outstanding students of the program. Also, the top eight avid texters were also selected and awarded with cash prizes, rice seeds, and fertilizers sponsored by ATI-MiMaRoPa, DA-RFO MiMaRoPa, and 101.7 FM Radyo Natin San Jose.
