IN LIGHT of the celebration of the first anniversary of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) or the Republic Act 11203 on Thursday, March 5, with a theme, “Sa Rice Tariffication Law, lahat tayo panalo!,” Secretary Isidro Lapeña encouraged more farmers, cooperatives and farmer-dependents to register and enroll in training programs under the Rice Extension Services Program (RESP).
In 2019, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), working under the extension-scholarship component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or Rice Fund, recorded a total of 12,191 enrolled scholars and 1,583 graduates.
As of January 31, a total of 239 programs were registered nationwide; 125 of which are implemented in Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS).
For 2020, Tesda aims to boost the number of enrollees for the qualifications offered under the RESP by offering 104,808 scholarship slots for the target 947 municipalities in 55 provinces.
The Tesda chief has earlier directed all regional and provincial offices, including Tesda Technology Institutions (TTIs) to prioritize the implementation if the RESP, as agriculture is one of the Authority’s priority industries and key employment generators.
With the increasing demand for mechanization for more efficient rice production, Lapeña emphasized the role of the Authority in providing free skills training for the identified beneficiaries.
“When you use machinery (rice production), it will reduce the cost of labor. When you reduce the cost of labor, then that will improve ‘yong presyo ng rice. This is where the Tesda trainings come in,” Lapeña added.
The free trainings offered are Rice Machinery Operations (RMO) NC II, Drying and Milling Plant Servicing NC II, Small Engine Servicing (Leading to Small Engine Servicing NC II), Solar Powered Irrigation Systems, Farmers Field School–Modernized Production in High Quality Inbred Rice and Seeds, with training modules developed by Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
Lapeña assured that these qualifications would equip the farmers and their dependents with operating and troubleshooting skills, as well as provide them with tools and infrastructure that optimize their rice production.
To be qualified for the scholarship, farmers, farm workers, and their dependents must enlist in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) through their respective city or municipal agriculture office, or through the Department of Agriculture website.
Under the RESP, scholars will receive a P160 daily allowance, and free training and assessment, including entrepreneurship training and insurance.
To ensure the sustainability of the program, Tesda had sent 25 TTI trainers to undergo the Rice Specialist Training Course (RSTC) under the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in November 2019.
Currently, the trainees are undergoing the second phase of the three-phase dry season course. The training will conclude on May 2020, the same month a new batch of TTI trainers will start for the wet season.
The training entails learning high-quality inbred rice production, farm mechanization, high-quality rice seed production, seed certification and analysis, rice machinery operation and maintenance, and management of agri-machinery pool.
After earning the rice specialist competencies, successful graduates will then become trainers who will teach the farmers and farm workers in their respective regions or provinces. (PR)