The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA and the Department of Agriculture (DA) - MIMAROPA Research Division collaboratively conducted Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Tool interviews in the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan on April 15-19, 2024; April 22-26, 2024; and May 6-10, 2024, respectively.
The activity aimed to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various rice program interventions for farmers. Moreover, it was designed to determine their awareness of the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Services (RCMAS) and whether they have utilized the RCMAS recommendations provided to them.
Prior to the series of interviews, the ATI MIMAROPA conducted a briefing on the use and operation of the outcome-based ME Tool on April 2, 2024, which was attended by 12 personnel from the DA-MIMAROPA Research Division and three (3) staff from the Center.
Mr. Michael Daven T. Jugno, Technical Support III from the Information Services Section of ATI MIMAROPA, and Ms. Marilyn Sanchez, Senior Science Research Specialist from the DA-MIMAROPA Research Division, served as resource persons for the said briefing.
During the briefing, they provided the participants with updates on the use and operation of the MEL application, the random sampling procedure, and how to gather data through interviews with rice farmers.
After the activity, Mr. Luisito D. Parcon, head of the DA-MIMAROPA Research Division, appreciated the support provided by ATI MIMAROPA, especially in assisting them during the scheduled MEL Tool interviews in the rice-producing provinces.
As an output, a total of 600 farmer-respondents were interviewed, representing various barangays in Calapan City, Pinamalayan, Bongabong, and Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro; the municipalities of San Jose, Rizal, and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro; and the municipalities of Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, and Roxas in Palawan.
