The ATI-RTC IX RCEF Team successfully conducted another Training of Trainers (TOT) on the Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seeds and Farm Mechanization last May 17-28, 2022, at Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

This training aims to heighten the sense of mission to help the farmers to become competitive through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and explain to the trainees the concepts and principles of the PalayCheck System specifically on the production of high-quality inbred rice seeds. It was attended by 30 participants from the different accredited Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

The highlights of the training were the lecture series on Palaycheck System. The Palaycheck system is simply an Integrated Crop Management (ICM) System for rice. ICM recognizes that rice-growing is a production system consisting of a range of factors that are interdependent and interrelated in their impact on the growth, yield, and rice grain quality and on the sustainability of the environment; “learning, checking, and sharing for best farming practice”.

Second, the lecture and field activity on Agro-Ecological Systems Analysis (AESA). AESA is a way of understanding the interactions of the different factors in the field, which directly and indirectly affect the growth and development of the rice plant.

Third, the hands-on operation of different farm machineries such as Combine Harvester and Four-wheel Drive Tractor at Salam Nature’s Farm, one of the RCEF Farm School in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Lastly, the one-day Microteaching activity of the participants, wherein each trainee was given topics from the 9 Key Checks of PalayCheck System and delivered it to the panelist for critiquing, feedbacking, and mentoring in facilitating the Farmers Field School (FFS) under the RCEF program.

ATI-RTC IX Center Director Ms. Alicia Rose D. Nebreja, congratulates the thirty (30) Trainers during her visit to the training. She challenged them to complete the 12-day intensive training and to continuously support and help our rice farmers in the region. She also reminded them that their tasks as trainers are crucial as they are now part of the extension arm of the center in delivering quality extension services to the farmers. 

The trainers took the challenge and gave their assurances that they would do their best to facilitate the implementation of the FFS on Modernized Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seed Certification in their respective LSAs and municipalities to achieve “Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita”.