BAYBAY CITY, Leyte - The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) aims to enhance the capabilities of rice fund beneficiaries in modernized inbred rice and seed production, as well as other relevant skills, to improve competitiveness and income. This component of RCEF proactively builds capacity through strategic extension services.
As part of RCEF- RESP Project 1, which focuses on designing and delivering training programs, enterprise development assistance, and communication support services, the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) continues its role as the lead agency for the extension component by conducting relevant training to develop the capabilities of rice fund beneficiaries further. The training covers production aspects and encourages beneficiaries to consider entrepreneurship through agri-business.
This year, ATI-RTC 8 has outlined two Training of Trainers (TOT) batches on Farm Business School (FBS) for Rice-Based Enterprises. The Farm Business School (FBS) training provides participants with the appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding entrepreneurship and fundamental farm/enterprise management, as well as helps improve market access through proper market linkages. Each training batch includes farm owners of rice-based farms, new local farmer technicians, and farmer leaders from the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
The farm owners are selected from ATI's existing list of certified rice-based Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 8's list of New Local Farmer Technicians (LFT). The list of farmer leaders is based on identified irrigators' associations by the National Irrigation Administration Region 8.
Batch 1 commenced on July 22 to 31, 2024 with 35 participants from the municipalities of Ormoc City, Matag-ob, Villaba, Hilongos, Albuera, Baybay City, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, and Sogo, Southern Leyte. Consequently, Batch 2 will be on August 14-23, 2024.
