Participants check the rice morphology  in one of the sessions during the training

REGIONWIDE.  The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Visayas conducted a Training of Trainers (TOT) on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice Seeds and Farm Mechanization with Re-Entry Plans on April 10 - 21, 2023. The objective of the training was to help farmers become competitive through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and to improve yield and income of rice farmers in non-RCEF provinces.

The training was held in the Labonite Family Farm in San Isidro, Pilar, Bohol and attended by 28 agricultural extension workers and farmer leaders from various municipalities and cities in Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor provinces. The participants were trained on the modified season-long Farmer Field School for the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice Seeds.

The training covered various topics, including the interpretation of the sense of mission to help farmers become competitive through RCEF, the principles of the PalayCheck System on the production of high-quality inbred rice seeds, and training management skills and knowledge on basic financial management.

Participants appreciated the training, highlighting its practicality and helpfulness in increasing their yield. Farmers also praised the excellent sharing of knowledge by the resource persons who provided them with knowledge and skills that would help them improve their farming practices.

The TOT, with re-entry plans, was designed to complement interventions to improve the yield and income of rice farmers in non-RCEF provinces. Participants of these training programs shall be beneficiaries of the inbred rice seeds to be distributed by PhilRice.

The success of the training signifies the importance of providing continuous support and training to farmers to help them become competitive and increase their income. It is an essential part of the government's efforts to improve the overall agriculture sector in the country.