ILOILO CITY, Western Visayas - Some 200 stakeholders of the rice industry participated in the Visayas-wide Cluster Rice Technology Transfer Workshop last June 13-15, 2023 at Punta Villa Resort, Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City.
The Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies, Local Government Units, extension service providers, farmer associations and leaders, and private agricultural technology companies were the participants of the said workshop. The ATI Region 6 team served as facilitators.
Mary Ann A. Ramos, ATI Region 6 Center Director, acknowledged guests and participants of the workshop and welcomed them during the Opening Program.
Leocadio S. Sebastian, DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, took part in the event through the four-point strategy of the Masagana Rice Program and the 3 Cs (Converge, cooperate, and Coordinate). He also stressed how clustering will aid farmers in maximizing resources as they engage in the rice value chain.
Plenary sessions took place during the 3-day event, covering topics on data-driven decision-making, nutrient management, and rice technologies, farm clustering and consolidation, mechanization, value chain development, and digitalization. Dubbed ‘Tektok Sessions’, resource persons and experts from the industry covered strategies, approaches, and best practices.
The group workshop centered on the 3 Cs followed on the second day, with a focus on the four Key Strategies of Increasing rice productivity, Making Rice Farm Clustering Work, Increasing Farmer’s Participation in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the rice value chain, and Attaining economies of scale and more efficient operations. The three participating regions presented draft technology scaling plans.
The event also showcased farm products and technologies through the Tekno Tiangge booths.
“To our partners, please help us. Let us move and act as one in giving hope to our farmers by sharing your thoughts and recommendations on how we are going to upscale technologies in our respective regions,” encouraged DA Western Visayas Regional Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo.
The activity aims to enhance the mobilization and scaling of smart technologies to boost domestic rice production and help modernize Philippine Rice Agriculture.
