NARRA, PALAWAN – Twenty (20) rice farmers received one-page, site-specific recommendations during a one-day briefing on the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS) on May 10, 2024, at the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in Narra.
Center Director Pat Andrew B. Barrientos was present during the activity and highlighted the importance of RCMAS recommendations in rice production in his message. He also commended the participants for their support and active participation and informed them about the various programs of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) on commodities other than rice.
In the briefing, the participants learned about the uses and importance of the RCMAS application. Although most of them were already familiar with the site-specific recommendation, they still commended the resource speakers for their clear discussions on its features and functions.
Mr. Marcelino A. Bautista, a member of the Sandoval Farmer's Association, emphasized his impression that with the increasing prices of fertilizers, he will give it a try and apply the recommendation to his rice farm to see whether it is effective or not.
“Dahil sa mahusay na pagpapaliwanag ng ating mga tagapagsalita, parang gusto kong subukan ang RCMAS recommendation na natanggap ko sa susunod na taniman. Kung epektibo ito, ako mismo ang magsasabi sa aking mga kapwa magsasaka na gamitin ito”, he shared.
As support to the Municipal Agriculture Office - Narra in the implementation of RCMAS, the ATI in MIMAROPA awarded one handheld GPS device to the FITS Center through Acting Municipal Agriculturist Eugene P. Sumaydeng.
As an expression of appreciation, Mr. Sumaydeng committed to improving the facilities and equipment of Narra’s FITS Center so that it could cater to more rice farmers who want to receive RCMAS recommendations.
