A participant drives a tractor as part of the training on farm mechanization.
MAGARAO, Camarines Sur- Training of Trainers (TOT) is a high-level professional learning process for qualified trainers who will be providing training and capacity-building assistance for farmers through farm schools. Graduates of this course may be tapped into conducting the RCEF Farmers’ Field School on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice & Seeds and Farm Mechanization training. Hence, the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center V (ATI Bicol) as the enabler, capacity builder, innovator, and knowledge bank for the Agriculture and Fishery Extension System and lead agency for RCEF-Extension Services Program conducted an “RCEF- Training of Trainers (TOT) on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice & Seeds and Farm Mechanization with GAD Concepts.”
There were a total of thirty (30) enthusiastic and very active trainers from the different accredited RCEF-LSAs and ARBOs from the different municipalities and cities of the Provinces of Masbate, Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon who attended the training. The attendees were comprised of eleven (11) females and nineteen (19) males. The participating LSAs/agencies were; Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Magel Golden Integrated Farm, Bermudez Agri Farm, Father and Sons Agri and Learning Center, SEAL Farm, Doña Barbara Integrated Farm, Angel Tolit’s Integrated Farm, Carmels Farm, Goodgrass, KAT Farm, RASTI Integrated Farm, Zeraphio’s Integrated Farm, CATNAFI Farm, Barbridge Integrated Farm, Ocbian Nature and San Agustin San Ramon Agrarian Reform Farmers’ Cooperative (SARFC).
During the first week, the participants underwent a series of lectures, particularly about Key Checks 1 to 9 along with its Special Topics and Basic Financial Literacy. During the field activity on farm mechanization, the participants traveled from the training venue to Minalabac Camarines Sur for their hands-on. The participants had a chance to be informed about the rice equipment and rice machinery available. The basic parts and functions of selected rice machinery were explained and demonstrated by the operator and an employee of the CMPC followed by the operation/return demonstration by the trainees. The participants were able to try the combine harvester and 4-wheel drive tractor at Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative (RCEF-LSA Coop Land) managed by Ms. Annielen L. Panerio (one of the accredited RCEF Learning Sites for Agriculture in the Province of Camarines Sur) located at Brgy. Tariric, Minalabac, Camarines Sur.
Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) is an approach that trainers can use to examine field scenarios in terms of pests, protectors, soil biology, plant health, and the impact of climatic elements on growing a healthy rice crop. Participants learned how to conduct Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) and collect data on the farm owned by Zaldy Espina at Magarao Camarines Sur to evaluate their abilities and knowledge and make better decisions about crop management. Two (2) groups prepared and presented their AESA results for review and critique with the help of the Resource Person from APAO, ATI, and the City Agriculture Office – Naga City. Microteaching was also incorporated during the training proper, with each presenter allowed five to seven (5-7) minutes to present their chosen topic. The goal of microteaching was to highlight the need to employ microteaching approaches more efficiently with the limited resources available.
Resource Persons came from partner agencies of ATI Bicol namely; Bureau of Plant Industry-National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS 5) and Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office No. 5 (DA RFO 5), State University Colleges and TESDA – Cam Sur. All the resource speakers were knowledgeable and experts in their field of specialization mainly on rice production technologies, the Magna Carta of Women, seed certification for inbred rice seed production, and climate in agriculture. The equivalent adjectival rating of the resource persons was excellent and very satisfactory. Therefore, it indicated that the majority of them were satisfied with the lecture discussion, hands-on, and other activities of the training.
