Abdulkadil, O. H. (2019). Rice doctors and friends to the barrios: A pilot rice extension delivery modality (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management Development Program Middle Managers' Class Batch 17 Capstone Paper Thesis (MMC)--Development Academy of the Philippines

Rice remains to be the most important crop and still the staple food in the country as it is consumed by most of the population. However, among the major constraints of the residents of Tomado, Aleosan, North Cotabato, was the low rise productivity due to limited technical knowledge and access to rice technologies thereby resulting to low rice technology adoption. The fragmented extension services delivery was also the felt need among the project beneficiaries, thus, the project titled, "Rice Doctors and Friends to the Barrios: A Pilot Rice Extension Delivery Modality was conducted in Tomado, Aleosan, North Cotabato, from September to November 2018." The project aimed to improve the technical knowledge and increase rice farmers' productivity through rice production technology training, rice technology demonstration and harmonization of extension services delivery among partner agencies. Results of the CP implementation, a total of 38 men and women rice farmers trained on rice production technology with emphasis on PalayCheck System. Rice farmers' knowledge on rice production was improved based on the pre and post-tests results. Average knowledge gained was only 34%, which may be attributed to aging rice farmer participants. Rice production training, using the PalayCheck System was the first extension service received and experienced by the project beneficiaries based on record of LGU- Aleosan Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG) and Barangay Tomado. Based on the results and analysis of the study, holistic application or utilization of the gained knowledge through training, and the 8 KeyChecks, it improved farming practices, and better yield was obtained and recorded. Sustained adoption/utilization of appropriate rice production technologies, particularly the adoption of PalayCheck System as crop production platform, helped increase farmers' productivity and profitability. Technology demonstration showed an increased in rice production with an average of 3.6 t/ha was recorded. Significant yield increment of 1 t/ha was achieved based on the baseline yield data (2.6 t/ha). An additional gross income of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Ph20,000) per cropping was obtained and earned by the farmer cooperator by using high quality seed. There is a need to strengthen the harmonization of extension services delivery among partner agencies, so that better impact would be felt by the end users and wasting of government resources due to duplication and overlapping activities will be minimized. Based on the lessons learned from engaging partners in extension services delivery through rice techno clinic activity, the following recommendations were drawn. First, there should be a function Network Structure where specific roles and responsibilities are defined; second, a participatory planning must be done even during then initial stage of project conceptualization. A "buttoms-up" planning must also be practiced so that problems or gaps that need to be addressed will be hit. Lastly, there should be a convergence-sharing of expertise and complementation of resources among organizations/institutions providing extension services to the FARMERS in the community.