In its fervent bid to secure rice sufficiency in the region, DA RFO 8 held a skill development training for local farmer technicians, geared towards enhancing their competence as key drivers of increased rice yields in the region, at San Miguel, Leyte, on September 29-30.

The training commenced with a comprehensive and detailed rice production overview delivered by former director, now MRIDP consultant, Leo P. Caneda. At the latter part of his talk, Consultant Caneda underlined the shared objective or collective goal behind the training. He says, “Isa lang naman talaga ang layunin natin. At yan ay kung paano natin mapapataas ang productivity at interes ng ating mga magsasaka upang tulungan ang ating food security dito sa Region 8, at para matulungan ang income ng ating magsasaka. It is about empowerment and prosperity in our farming communities.”

[Our primary goal is to pique farmers’ interest, income, and productivity, which can help us attain food security in the region. It is about empowerment and prosperity in our farming communities.]

More specifically, the training aims to expand LFT’s knowledge on the regional situation of the rice industry, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and the Agro-Climatic Advisory Portal.

Notably, the workshop section of the training encouraged LFTs to air out their sentiments and their proposed solutions, allowing DA RFO 8 to have a deeper grasp on the situation of the rice industry in the region through the lens of those who interact with common farmers from the grassroots—the LFTs.

This two-day training gathered local farmer technicians across the region.

If we can recall, at the outset of September, DA RFO 8 also held training for LFT on the Rice Crop Management System. This coordinated and aggressive effort of the department is oriented towards the attainment of rice sufficiency and food security in the region.