BAYBAY CITY, Leyte - According to IRRI’s Rice Knowledge Bank, farmers lose an estimated average of 37% of their rice crop to pests and diseases every year. What can significantly reduce losses in production are good crop management, timely and accurate diagnosis in the field. That is why farmers need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills in managing pests and diagnosing diseases affecting their plants.
A 5-day training was conducted by ATI-RTC 8 to enhance the knowledge and skills of the Rice coordinators on rice-extension delivery services focused on rice pests and diseases identification, its field diagnosis and management that will contribute to the enhancement of productivity, profitability, sustainability, and resource-use efficiency of rice farming in their respective municipalities.
When it comes to the use of digital technology in agriculture, participants mentioned that the ICT tools and applications together with their hands-on activities had greatly opened their minds to become more proactive and grasp new technologies despite being aged AEWs.
“I am assured that my learning during the training can be applied in our municipality to equip our local farmer technician partners and farmers on the management and control options for rice pests and diseases which will lead to increase yield and reduce cost, thus farmers’ income will increase.” explained Jenica L. Emutan an Agricultural Technician from San Juan, Southern Leyte.
Rhodora Tingzon from Tacloban City, Leyte appreciated the Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA). “It was my first time doing the practicum in the field and I really grasped its importance, the analysis, and processing of data. With this training, it is expected that immediate action on the control of rice pests and diseases can be done while the cost of production will be lessened/minimized.” she added.
Jander D. Capacite, an AT from San Julian, E. Samar, encouraged his fellow participants about the importance of attending such training. “We AEWs should always be capable to serve farmers to uplift their lives to improve their production yield and to increase income.” He said that the training gave him the confidence to advise farmers and to teach them the right technologies in rice farming.
Capacitating AEWs: Rice Pest Management and Field Diagnosis was one of the activities requested by AEWs based on ATI-RTC 8’s Training Needs Survey for 2022-2024. Thirty-three (33) participants completed the training held on May 23-27, 2022. This is also the first activity to be conducted face-to-face in ATI-RTC 8 since the pandemic.
