275 Bulacan farmers finish RCEF’s training program


by Erick Silverio
Farmer scholars of Abuela Twin Creeks farm and training center doing the Agro Ecosystem Analysis that was developed by PhilRice to efficiently monitor the Growth of the Rice Plants planted in the field. Photo by: ATCAF-TC
A total of 275 Bulacan farmers from eleven batches finished their free training sessions on Production of High Quality In-bred rice, Seed Certification and Farm Mechanization of the Department of Agriculture (DA’s) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program.
 
Abuela Twin Creeks Agricultural Farm and Training Center (ATCAF—TC) School Administrator Ranic Cruz Sta Rita told The Manila Times that the said farmers finished the 14-day sessions on Modern Rice Farming and 3-day on Agri-entrepreneurship during their graduation rites held on Saturday, August 27, 2022.
 
Sta Rita said the ATCAF Training Center trained 25 scholars per batch with a total of 425 farmers out of 17 batches since 2021 including the early 6 batches.
 
A farmer scholar is being familiarized with the operation of the walk behind transplanter by one of the Agricultural Engineers of ATCAF training center, The Walk behind is capable of transplanting 1.5 hectares in 8 hours comparing to the old way of transplanting which takes about 25 to 30 persons just to plant 1 hectare of rice field in a days work. (Photo ATCAF-TC)
 
He also mentioned that Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Governor Daniel Fernando supported them through the Provincial Agriculture Office headed by Gigi Carillo.
 
Part of the training is teaching them in doing the Agro Ecosystem Analysis that was developed by PhilRice to efficiently monitor the Growth of the Rice Plants planted in the field.
 
“It also aims to elevate their skills to a whole new level so they can produce rice in a much more efficient way,” Sta Rita said.
 
The newly 2-batch graduates came from Barangay Bagong Pag-asa of San Miguel town while the other first 9 batches for the year 2022 were from villages of Sta. Rita Bata, Biak Na Bato, Batasan Bata, San Agustin, Sacdalan, Calumpang and Malibay also in the said town.
 
The trainings that ATCAF conducted according to Sta Rita were sanctioned by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) who provides the scholarships.
 
“May allowance din po ang farmers na ibibigay ng TESDA na P3,000 after makumpleto ng mga farmers ang kanilang training,” Sta. Rita said.
 
It was learned that Sta Rita and other trainers were trained by The DA-Agricultural Training Institute and DA-Philippine rice research Intitute (PhilRice)  under The RCEF program Training of Trainors on conducting the Production of High Quality in bred rice, Seed Certification and Farm Mechanization.
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