BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE - The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 8 (ATI-RTC 8) conducted its first batch of Training of Trainers (TOT) on Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seeds, and Farm Mechanization. Held from April 8-19, 2024, at HALL C, ATI-RTC 8 in Baybay City, Leyte. The training was facilitated by Ms. Junalyn F. Palco, RCEF Point Person and Ms. Shiela Mae T. Sarco, Training Support Staff.
The 12-day training was attended by 30 participants, including farmschool trainers, representatives from irrigators' associations, and rice farmers' association leaders across Eastern Visayas. Participants actively engaged in hands-on activities like the PalayCheck System (Keycheck 1-9) Assessment, insect and disease identification, Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA), and farm machinery operation. They also learned about fertilizer and area computation, agri-applications, seedling preparation, and conducted a crop cut exercise. To solidify their learnings, participants capped off the training with a micro-teaching activity, allowing them to practice their newfound skills in facilitating training sessions.
This initiative by ATI-RTC 8 is anchored on the objective of empowering participants to become effective trainers, facilitators, and resource persons. They will return to their respective communities equipped to conduct Modified Season-Long Farmer Field Schools, focusing on the production of high-quality inbred rice, seeds, and farm mechanization. This will create a ripple effect, fostering knowledge transfer and improved agricultural practices among local rice farmers in Eastern Visayas.
By equipping local leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge, ATI-RTC 8 is paving the way for a more productive and sustainable rice farming sector in Eastern Visayas. This initiative has the potential to increase rice yield, improve grain quality, and empower local farmers to achieve greater food security and economic prosperity.
A second batch is scheduled to take place from May 6-17, 2024 at the ATI-RTC 8.
