NORTHERN KABUNTALAN, Maguindanao del Norte — A total of 1,175 farmers in the Bangsamoro region were given recognition by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education – Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD) for their successful completion of training programs focused on production of high-quality inbred rice, seed certification, and farm mechanization.
On Friday, January 12, a graduation ceremony took place for the 350 rice farmer trainees from Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao del Norte, and the Special Geographic Area (SGA).
Additionaly, separate graduation ceremonies were held for 100 trainees from Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, and 375 trainees from Mamasapano and 350 from Datu Abdullah Sangki, both in Maguindanao del Sur, on January 9 and 11, respectively.
The training, conducted under the Rice Extension Service Program (RESP) of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) national, is a collaborative effort of MBHTE-TESD and partner implementing agencies.
Their mandate includes imparting skills in rice crop production, modern rice farming techniques, seed production, farm mechanization, and knowledge/technology transfer through farm schools nationwide.
According to TESD Maguindanao Provincial Director Salehk Mangelen emphasized, the primary objective of the training is to assist rice farmers in adopting new agricultural technologies, thereby enhacing production, increasing yield, and anticipating a reduction in production costs.
“Ang training, pinaka-pangunahing layunin nito ay para matulungan ating mga rice farmers—matulungan sila na magkaroon ng bagong technology para ma-improve ang production, lalaki yung kanilang ani at the same time na inaasahan natin na yung production cost ay bababa,” Mangelen said.
The 14-week actual training, facilitated by MBHTE-TESD and Agriculture Training Institute (ATI), was attended by all graduates, who each received a cash allowance of P2,270.00 from the RCEF.
Mangelen also shared that a group of farmers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur achieved a remarkable harvest of 9.3 metric tons per hectare, earning the higher rank in the BARMM and ranking third in Mindanao in 2023.
He emphasized that the success was a result of the collaborative efforts of MBHTE-TESD, ATI, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), and the Landbank of the Philippines.
One of the beneficiaires, Rosemarie Lamis from Barangay Paulino Labio, Northern Kabuntalan thanked the TESD and partner agencies for empowering the farmers with knowledge on advanced farming technology.
Lamis, who comes from a farming family, highlighted the positive impact of the training on their livelihoods, particularly in terms of achieving a rich harvest and increased income.
“Very blessed po kami na dumating ang BARMM, lalong-lalo na sa mga magsasaka. Una nagkaroon kami ng mga libreng binhi, na-avail po naming yun, at pangalawa itong RCEF program na makakatulong kung paano namin mai-aangat ang aming buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka,” said Lamis.
[We are very blessed that we have BARMM now, especially for the farmers. First, we received free seeds, and secondly, this RCEF program will help us uplift our lives through farming.]
MBHTE-TESD Maguindanao Provincial Office partnered with four (4) farm schools or Technical Vocational Institute such as Busikong Greenland, Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Upi, Al-Rahman Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Mamasapano, Al-Mani Farmers Marketing Cooperative in DAS, and PGR Integrated Farm in Northern Kabuntalan. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
