Twenty-nine rice farmers and machinery operators from Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur were trained by TESDA RTC-KorPhil Davao, TESDA PTC-Malita and DA-PhilMech in the Rice Postharvest Technologies under the Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) at Molave Hotel, Tagum City, Davao del Norte on March 18-22, 2024.
Members of the Farmers’ Cooperative aand Associations (FCA) as far as Panabo City, Carmen, Asuncion, Tagum City, San Isidro, Talaingod, Kapalong, Island Garden City of Samal, Kiblawan, Hagonoy, Bansalan, and Matanao, were trained about rice drying and milling technologies in the 5-day training with lectures and hands on activities.
On March 18-19, the farmers were lectured on the Rice Tarification Law, Farm Safety, Anatomy of Rice, Factors Affecting Quality of Rice, and Moisture Content and its Determination handled by Engr. Lenard Basinga and Engr. Mark Bernard Vidad of DA-PhilMech. The two main topics which are Drying and Milling Systems and Principles were discussed by Engr. Ricky J. Dabalos and Engr. Jeric F. Bilita of TESDA PTC-Malita and RTC-KorPhil Davao, respectively.
From March 20, the farmers were ferried to the Gravity Irrigators Sustainable Agriculture Cooperative (GISACO) in Prk. Molave, New Visayas, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte for the hands-on training of the various postharvest machineries that include batch-type recirculating dryer, multi-stage rice miller, and single-pass rice miller.
From the actual demonstration, the farmers were able to perform active operations of the machineries and gained competence in the maintenance and common troubleshooting of the technologies.
The training, funded by DA-PhilMech and partnered with TESDA trainers as resource persons, is registered under the monitoring programs of the RTC-KorPhil Davao and PTC-Malita. The graduates received Certificates of Training making them eligible to take National Assessments in Drying and Milling Plant Servicing NC III.
Photo credits: Engr. Lenard Basinga of DA-PhilMech