TRAINING. A total of 29 agricultural extension workers in Central Luzon underwent a three-week training to help rice farmers to become more competitive. The participants' training is funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program. (Photo courtesy of DA-PhilRice) CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga - About 29 agricultural extension workers in Central Luzon are now equipped with knowledge and skills to help farmers become more competitive. The agricultural workers have completed a three-week training on high-quality inbred rice production, farm mechanization, and pest and nutrient management. Lea Abaoag, head of the Technology Management and Services Division of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-Philrice), said on Wednesday, that this strategy of combined training was pilot tested in this batch of trainees. "In this training, we combined the topics on producing high-quality inbred rice, farm mechanization, and