BAYBAY CITY, Leyte - With the growing need to promote modernized farming approaches—particularly in rice production—the Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center 8 (ATI-RTC 8) conducted a series of briefings and deployment activities under the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Services (RCMAS).
RCMAS is a free, digital decision-making tool designed to help farmers optimize their crop management practices, improve productivity, and increase income. Given the rising cost of agricultural inputs, the tool supports farmers in maximizing the use of available nutrients in their fields while providing site-specific guidance on additional nutrient applications suited for their rice crops. It also offers timely recommendations on essential farming practices such as land preparation and pest management.
A total of 305 rice farmers from the municipalities of Paranas and San Jose de Buan in Samar, Sulat and Taft in Eastern Samar, and Capoocan and Tolosa in Leyte participated in the briefings conducted in July 2025. These sessions aimed to equip them with a basic understanding and deeper appreciation of RCMAS, as well as provide personalized, science-based recommendations through farmer interviews conducted using the RCMAS web tool.
As a result, 325 RCMAS recommendations were generated and disseminated to the participating farmers. These guides will assist them in determining the appropriate type, amount, and timing of fertilizer application for their specific field conditions.
By embracing digital tools like RCMAS, farmers in Eastern Visayas are taking meaningful steps toward smarter, more sustainable rice production—empowering them to make informed decisions and secure better yields for a more resilient farming future.
