LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — A nationwide endline evaluation led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has validated that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund–Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) is driving significant improvements in productivity, profitability, and climate resilience among Filipino rice farmers.
The study, titled "Reaping the Benefits: Evaluation of RCEF-RESP 2019–2024," was presented on 27 January 2026 during the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Training Institute's (DA-ATI) annual performance review in Quezon City. It assessed the program's impact following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law.
Over 300,000 farmers reached across 57 provinces
Led by project team leader Dr. Ernesto Brown, the evaluation found that RCEF-RESP successfully delivered extension services at scale, reaching more than 300,000 farmers, trainers, and extension intermediaries across 57 priority rice-producing provinces. This broad reach has translated into higher adoption of science-based practices directly linked to better yields, reduced production risks, and improved farm incomes.
Farmer-beneficiaries reported increased use of certified inbred seeds, resulting in more uniform crop stands and higher productivity. Improved crop establishment and nutrient management, coupled with more effective pest and disease control, helped reduce losses and stabilize yields even under variable weather and market conditions.
Mechanization, skills training boost incomes
The program also strengthened mechanization-related skills, enabling farmers to optimize machinery use, lower labor costs, and improve timeliness of operations — all contributing to higher net returns.
Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs) and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) emerged as critical platforms for impact. By providing hands-on, field-based training, these modalities allowed farmers to test and adopt technologies under real farm conditions. The evaluation noted that farmers engaged in LSAs and FFS were more likely to sustain improved practices, share knowledge with peers, and invest in upgrading their production systems.
These changes at the farm level have not only raised household incomes but also enhanced local food security in rice-dependent communities.
Strengthened extension systems, inter-agency coordination
Beyond individual farms, the evaluation highlighted RCEF-RESP's contribution to strengthening local extension systems. The program supported the development and upgrading of LSAs as practical learning hubs, enhanced the competencies of extension intermediaries, and improved coordination among ATI, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), local government units, and farmer organizations.
This more coherent and collaborative extension network has improved service delivery and made public investment in extension more effective and inclusive.
Recommendations for sustaining gains
While concluding that RCEF-RESP is a relevant and effective public investment generating measurable benefits, the study offered key recommendations to protect and scale these gains:
- Strengthen post-training support to ensure continued application and refinement of new practices.
- Harmonize monitoring and evaluation systems across implementing agencies to better track outcomes and guide decision-making.
- Clarify inter-agency roles to reduce overlaps and close gaps.
- Improve convergence with credit, insurance, mechanization, and market support so farmers can fully capitalize on the knowledge and skills acquired.
The event gathered representatives from all Regional ATI Training Centers and ATI Central Office officials, including Engr. Remelyn Recoter, Director IV, and Ms. Milagros Urbano, Chief of the Policy and Planning Division.
The endline evaluation aligns with SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan: Sustainable Transformation of Agricultural Systems through Innovation in Southeast Asia (SUSTAIN Southeast Asia), which aims to accelerate agricultural transformation through innovation and evidence-based policy. By documenting how targeted interventions boosted smallholder success, the study offers a scalable model for similar initiatives in the Philippines and the broader Southeast Asian rice sector.