First Graders Experience Rice Farming at IRRI HQ

Los Baños, Philippines — Twenty-seven first graders from Keys School Manila Inc. immersed in IRRI Education’s Rice Planting Experience (RPEx) Program of IRRI Education where they experienced how to plant rice firsthand. By immersing themselves in these activities, the students not only learned about the vital role of rice in food security but also developed teamwork and community spirit through collaboration with their peers and families. This year, Keys School Manila Inc. participated for the second time, underscoring its goal of providing students with practical agricultural experiences as part of their curriculum.

The RPEx Apprentice Journey 1 program offers a variety of engaging activities for students who are in pre-school to grade school, such as:

1. Seedbed preparation
2. Pulling of seedlings
3. Seed broadcasting
4. Manual transplanting
5. Grid marking
6. Plowing using carabao
7. Operation of the mechanical transplanter

The day began with an orientation where training facilitators provided basic information on rice planting and what to expect in the field. During this session, students raised their curious questions about rice and rice farming such as the period of growing rice, the currently available colors of rice, and the differences between good and bad insects in the rice field, among others.

After dressing in appropriate attire, the students traveled to the rice planting field, eager to participate in various hands-on stations. Each station has a designated IRRI Research Technician who provides demonstration and support services to the students, teachers, and the attending parent or guardian of the students.

At the seedbed preparation station, the children were tasked with picking up soil and creating a suitable environment for planting. At the seedling pulling station, they carefully uprooted young rice plants, learning the importance of gentle handling. During the seed broadcasting station, students scattered seeds over the prepared fields, gaining insight into planting techniques. At the manual transplanting station, they worked together to place seedlings into the soil, reinforcing teamwork and coordination.

The grid marking station taught them how to properly space the seedlings for optimal growth. At the mechanical transplanter station, the young farmers watched the machine efficiently transplant seedlings.

Parents also joined in the planting, showing that farming is a community effort. “That’s how farmers make the rice we eat!” cheered one parent, highlighting the event’s educational focus.

Essentially, the RPEx Program transcended mere education; it was an event of curiosity, collaboration, and community spirit. By engaging young learners and their families in the hands-on experience of rice farming, IRRI not only highlighted the vital role of rice in global food security but also inspired a sense of stewardship for the environment. Such initiatives foster a deeper understanding of agriculture, encouraging the next generation to appreciate and pursue sustainable farming practices that will shape the future of food production.

Interested in experiencing the same program? Schools and organizations can engage with RPEx by reaching out to IRRI Education for tailored experiences that suit their educational goals! Email us at education@irri.org or visit our website education.irri.org for more information.