By Kenneth Marcos 
As the sun set over the rice fields of the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, 26 participants from the National Irrigation Administration–Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS II) and various irrigators’ associations headed home not only with new farming knowledge but also with three powerful reminders — purpose, perseverance, and heart.
These words came from Deputy Executive Director Karen Eloisa Barroga during the closing of the Basic Rice Production Training held from October 20 to 24. The week-long course aimed to equip field officers and farmer leaders with modern techniques that improve rice yield, lower production costs, and maintain quality harvests.
Grounded in the PalayCheck System — a step-by-step guide to better rice production — the training covered practical lessons from preparing seedbeds and using the plastic drum seeder and manual seeding machine, to identifying pests and diseases in rice fields.
For participants, the most memorable part was the hands-on fieldwork. “My favorite was the field activities because the trainers from PhilRice were very hands-on. You experience the real thing in the field, so discipline is really important,” said Jerra Mikka Duldulao, an Irrigators Development Officer.
The training is part of a stronger partnership between the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to bring technology and innovation closer to farmers. Through this collaboration, both agencies aim to promote mechanization and science-based farming practices to help farmers become more productive and resilient.
Experts say that the use of modern machines like the drum seeder can save time and labor while improving crop uniformity, leading to higher yield and lower costs. The training also emphasized integrated pest management and climate-smart practices — key strategies to protect crops against unpredictable weather and pest outbreaks.
Beyond technology, however, the organizers highlighted the importance of attitude and purpose in farming. “Technology is only one part of success. Farmers must also have perseverance and heart — because agriculture is a profession of hope,” Barroga said during her closing message.
With the ongoing challenges in rice production — from rising input costs to changing weather — programs like this serve as a reminder that sustainable progress in agriculture requires not only machines and methods but also motivated and knowledgeable people behind them.
As the trainees return to their respective communities, they are expected to share what they learned and inspire other farmers to adopt modern, efficient, and heart-led farming practices — ensuring that every grain of rice is a product not just of skill, but also of purpose and passion.
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