Barotac Viejo, Iloilo farmers urged to use Rice Crop Manager to boost yields

Aimed at increasing productivity in rice farming, farmers and local farmer technicians (LFTs) in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo participated in a pre-season information caravan focused on the Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS), a digital tool designed to help farmers maximize rice yields while minimizing production costs.

The caravan, held on May 29 and spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas in coordination with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), intended to reintroduce RCMAS and encourage its adoption among farmers and LFTs ahead of this year’s wet cropping season.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute developed the RCMAS to provide farm-specific recommendations on nutrient management and pest control. It offers guidance from land preparation to harvest, helping farmers apply the right type, amount, and timing of fertilizers and effectively managing common rice pests and diseases.

According to Sheena Jorda, reporting officer of MAO-Barotac Viejo, the digital tool was initially introduced to their farmers in 2016. However, its adoption declined over the years due to a lack of sufficient agricultural extension workers (AEWs) to assist farmers in generating RCM recommendations. 

The ongoing caravan, conducted regionwide by DA-Western Visayas, is equipping farmers with the skills needed to utilize the app effectively.  

Fifty farmers and four LFTs from the seven farm clusters under the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) received in-depth training on how to use RCMAS, from user registration to troubleshooting and access methods. The department also provided farmers with a guide on completing the RCM questionnaire, implementing site-specific nutrient management, and utilizing RCMAS both online and offline.

Jorda added that the local agriculture office of Barotac Viejo is targeting higher yields from the 965 hectares covered under the Masagana clusters this year, an increase from the 800 hectares cultivated in 2024, which achieved an average yield of 4.2 metric tons per hectare.

Aira Pedregosa, Agriculturist I of DA Western Visayas, emphasized that farmers should generate a one-page RCM recommendation every cropping season to ensure optimum crop and nutrient management practices.

Mayor Nielo Tupas graced the activity and expressed full support for the program, urging local farmers to adopt and maximize its benefits for palay production.

The DA Western Visayas is intensifying its efforts to accelerate the adoption of this digital tool, aiming to achieve a significant yield increment for MRIDP farmer-beneficiaries during this wet cropping season.

“Gapasalamat gid ko sa DA sa pagpatigayon sang sini nga seminar nga makadugang pa gid sang bag-o nga teknolohiya sa pagpasanyog kag pagpadaku pa gid sang amon patubas pinaagi sa paggamit sang RCM,” said Federico Perasol, LFT from Brgy. California.

Meanwhile, Ziroh Elerio, Agriculturist I at the DA Western Visayas Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC), discussed the various pests and diseases that rice farmers need to monitor and manage. He also highlighted the biological control agents developed by the RCPC to help farmers prevent and control pest outbreaks in rice fields.###Text by Sheila Mae Toreno & Photos by Khrysma Dei Caldina/DA-RAFIS 6