PhilRice boosts knowledge transfer toward self-sufficiency

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is ramping up its knowledge transfer efforts to equip farmers with the latest in rice technology on their way to achieving rice self-sufficiency in two years' time. In a statement on Monday, PhilRice said it donated books and other materials to the Farmers' Information and Technology Services or FITS in municipalities with technology development sites. Some of the materials include rice technology bulletins, magazines, books on rice science and technology as well as videos on rice production, which were distributed to forty extension workers in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Aurora. Agricultural extension workers are personnel tasked with providing knowledge and conducting educational activities to improve the capacity of farmers in producing higher yields of agriculture products. PhilRice deputy executive director for development Ruben Miranda urged extension workers to regularly update themselves with information "as they are the government's front-liners in reaching and serving the farmers." "Filling knowledge gaps in rice farming will enable farmers [to] become more progressive and eventually, help the country achieve rice self-sufficiency," Miranda stressed. PhilRice head of development communication division Diadem Gonzales, meanwhile, urged extension workers to distribute the materials to the academe, students and the general public in their area "to hasten the dissemination of innovation in rice farming." PhilRice said free publications, photos and videos are also available on the PhilRice website. "PhilRice products such as Tapuy and other publications can also be ordered through the website," it added. —JMT/VS, GMA News