MATALOM, Leyte - Following the RCM Briefing in Bato, Leyte, batch 2 of the same activity was conducted in Matalom, Leyte on April 25, 2022. Seventy-six (76) farmer participants from Barangays Agbanga and Itum were interviewed and were provided with personalized RCM recommendations.
A typical RCM recommendation contains details on what kind and the amount of fertilizer one has to use during a specific growth stage of a rice plant. It also provides reminders on the things to consider during transplanting especially in applying insecticides as well as other farm practices such as maintaining water levels during a certain period of time. One has to take into consideration that RCM recommendations are site-specific that is why each farms are geographically measured to ensure concreteness of the recommendations provided.
Despite the technological constraints due to the weak internet connectivity in the venue, the staff from the Municipal Agriculture Office in Matalom, headed by Ms. Delia Timkang, and the RCM team from ATI 8 generated a total of 108 recommendations to the farmers for the next cropping season.
It was on December 2021 when typhoon Odette brought torrential rains, violent winds, landslides, and storm surges in different provinces in the Philippines, most parts of Leyte included. It was indeed an encouragement for Matalom farmers to have an idea of their possible yield assuming they follow the recommendations provided to them as they too experienced their share of farm losses during TD Odette.
A hope for higher yields and bigger income comes with the recommendations each farmer takes home with them. In the end, a farmer’s determination and strong-will are keys to achieve such success.
