Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Service Program (RCEF-RESP) with Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) Batac and Municipal Agriculture Office of Currimao, Ilocos Norte conducted a two-day skills training on rice mechanization from June 24-25, 2022 in Brgy. Cabuusan, Currimao. This was attended by twenty-four rice farmers from seven barangays; Anggapang Sur, Comcomlo-ong, Pias Sur, Pias Norte, Maglaoi Centro, Maglaoi Norte, and Cabuusan.

The training is part of the implementation of the SMARTER Rice project to equip farmers with needed skills in the establishment of field trials for 2022WS.

Farmers learned the proper procedure of establishment of the Minus-one Element Technique (MOET), seed sowing using the mechanical seeder and Dapog Technique, Carbonized Rice Hull (CRH) preparation, and the operation of farm machineries such as the tractor-harrower, boat tiller, and riding-type hand tractor during the first day of training. (DA-PhilRice Batac, FB)