Rice Farmers' Awareness of the RSBSA and Access to Support Services in Ajuy, Iloilo

Rice farming is a critical agricultural activity that sustains millions of people worldwide, especially in Asia, which produces around 90% of the global rice output. Countries like the Philippines remain significant rice producers but still depend heavily on imports due to challenges such as labor costs, inconsistent rainfall, land management, and limited government support (PhilRice, 2018). Improving domestic rice production is vital for food security, livelihood, and economic stability in these countries.
In the Philippines, the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) was developed as a comprehensive database of farmers, fisherfolk, and farm laborers. It serves as a targeting mechanism for government programs and support services aimed at improving agricultural productivity and farmer welfare. Despite the importance of RSBSA in delivering timely assistance and fostering agricultural development, the awareness and access to these support services among rice farmers at the local level, such as in Ajuy, Iloilo, remain underexplored (Assessment of Targeting and Financing Aspects of RSBSA-AIP, 2024).
Rice farmers' awareness of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) is generally positive, with many farmers understanding its purpose and learning about it mainly through barangay officials; however, some farmers face barriers such as distance and limited access to social media, which affects their access to support services linked to the RSBSA. The significance of RSBSA for farmers lies in its role as a crucial policy tool for delivering agricultural benefits, assistance, and interventions, which help improve their productivity, access to government support, and overall welfare in the agricultural sector (Reyes & Gloria, 2017; Reario, 2024).
Existing research points to challenges faced by rice farmers in accessing agricultural support and extension services. Many farmers are aware of programs but have limited participation or access to training and incentives. Moreover, while data from RSBSA assist in policy formulation, there is a research gap regarding how well rice farmers in specific communities understand and utilize this system and the support services linked to it (PhilRice 2018; Assessment of Targeting and Financing, 2024).
This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing the awareness of rice farmers in Ajuy, Iloilo, toward the RSBSA and their access to related support services. Understanding farmers' knowledge and engagement with these systems is crucial in designing better outreach, enhancing program coverage, and ultimately improving rice farming productivity and sustainability at the local level.

Rice Farmers', Awareness, RSBSA, Support

1. Aguilar, J. M., & Gonzalez, R. T. (2025). Impact evaluation of agricultural insurance programs and subsidy distribution among small-scale rice producers in Western Visayas. Philippine Institute for Development Studies Policy Series. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Annor, E., et al. (2025). Evaluating targeting efficiency in agricultural intervention programs: Evidence from the SAAD program in the Philippines. Journal of Visayas State University. https://reserds.vsu.edu.ph/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Annor, S., et al. (2025). Evaluating targeting efficiency in agricultural intervention programs: Evidence from the SAAD program in the Philippines. Review of Socio-Economic Research and Development Studies, 9(1), 1-18. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Assessment of the Targeting and Financing Aspects of the RSBSA-AIP. (2024). Philippine Institute for Development Studies. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bautista, J. R., & Sumido, M. A. (2021). Impact of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund on mechanization and seed distribution in Western Visayas. Philippine Journal of Agricultural Economics, 15(2), 45-59. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bitonio, J. (2025). Enhancing indemnity claim procedures in the Philippine agricultural sector: An assessment of local coordination. Journal of Agricultural Governance, 12(1), 45-58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bitonio, J. (2025). Evaluation of government agricultural registries and insurance participation in regional hubs. Journal of Philippine Rural Development. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE). (2024). The National Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization Program 2023–2028. Department of Agriculture. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Casinillo, K. (2020). Socio-economic factors influencing the knowledge and attitude of rice farmers. Philippine Social Science Journal, 3(2), 55-62. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Casinillo, L. F. (2020). Factors affecting the profitability of rice farmers in Leyte, Philippines. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 12(3), 56-63. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ceballos, R. M., Garcia, L. S., & Torres, P. D. (2023). Digitalization of agricultural subsidies: Evaluating the Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC) system in the Philippines. Journal of Rural Development and Policy, 9(1), 112-128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Chikopela, L., Ng’ombe, J. N., & Tembo, G. (2024). Smallholder farmers' adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: A case of climate-smart agriculture. Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, 15, 100-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.100987 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Conde, R. (2024). Implementation and effectiveness of the PCIC-RSBSA rice insurance program in Western Visayas. International Journal of Agricultural Research and Review, 12(2), 770-780. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Conde, R. (2024). Implementation of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) in the Visayas and Bicol regions. ETCCOR Educational Research, 4(2), 770-780. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Conde, R. (2024). Implementation of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) in the Province of Albay. iJOINED - International Journal of Interdisciplinary Educational Research, 4(2), 770-780. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. De Leon, P. S. (2024). Streamlining agricultural extension: The role of local enumerators in RSBSA registration and farmer profiling. Journal of Philippine Agricultural Sciences, 107(2), 115-128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Department of Agriculture - PhilRice. (2020). Crisis-resilient rice farming: RCEF implementation under the new normal. DA-PhilRice Socioeconomics Division. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Department of Agriculture (DA). (2025). Memorandum Circular No. 35: Guidelines for implementing the Fuel Assistance to Farmers Project. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Department of Agriculture Western Visayas. (2024, April 16). National stakeholders review farmers’ registry implementation. [Press Release]. https://westernvisayas.da.gov.ph/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Department of Agriculture. (2018). “Rice is enough” — DA, PhilRice, IRRI. Retrieved from https://www.da.gov.ph/rice-is-enough-da-philrice-irri/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Department of Agriculture. (2022). Memorandum Order No. 34: Guidelines on the Georeferencing of Farm Parcels for RSBSA Updating. https://www.da.gov.ph/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Department of Agriculture. (2022). RSBSA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RSBSA-FAQs-07-2022.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Department of Agriculture. (2023). Implementing guidelines for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) program for FY 2023-2024 (Memorandum Order No. 68, Series of 2023). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. https://www.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/mo68_s2023.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Department of Agriculture. (2024). Data privacy manual for the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) (Memorandum Order No. 27, Series of 2024). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. https://www.da.gov.ph/wpcontent/uploads/2024/07/mo27_s2024.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Department of Agriculture. (2024). Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) 20232028: Implementation roadmap. Government of the Philippines. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Department of Agriculture. (2024). Memorandum Order No. 27: Data Privacy Manual for the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). https://www.da.gov.ph/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Department of Agriculture. (2024). Memorandum Order No. 27: Guidelines for the implementation of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). https://www.da.gov.ph [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Department of Agriculture. (2024). The aging workforce in Philippine agriculture: Trends and policy implications. DA Strategic Communications Office. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Department of Agriculture. (2024). The Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) Profiling Platform. Memorandum Order No. 27, Series of 2024. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Department of Agriculture. (2025). Department Circular No. 11: Implementation of P20 Rice Project for RSBSA-Registered Farmers. https://www.da.gov.ph/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Duana, M. N. J. (2024). Rice farmers' awareness and perception of Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) in Nagcarlan, Laguna, Philippines [Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines Los Baños]. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Dumilag, K., et al. (2024). The Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) as a tool for inclusive growth. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Policy Note. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Ebora, R. V. (2025). Transforming rural agriculture in the Philippines through mobile technology: A 2025 perspective on digital literacy and data-driven farming. Farmonaut Agricultural Insights. https://farmonaut.com/asia/philippines-rural-farming-mobile-technology-2025-guide [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. (2025). Agriculture 4.0: The intersection of education and digital transformation in rural landscapes. Frontiers Media S.A. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Hossain, M., et al. (2024). Agricultural interventions and multidimensional poverty reduction: A crosscountry analysis. In Journal of Rural Development and Agriculture. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Hossain, M., et al. (2024). Impact of agricultural interventions on multidimensional poverty: A crosscountry analysis. Agricultural Systems, 215, 103-115. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Inocencio, A. B., Rola, A. C., & Ravago, M. L. V. (2024). The role of government subsidies in Philippine agricultural competition. In H. Hill & J. A. Roumasset (Eds.), Pro-poor Development Policies. Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). (2025). Philippines introduces innovative satellite-based crop insurance and agro-advisory services to help build farmers' resilience. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). (2025, June 9). Philippines introduces innovative satellite based crop insurance and agro-advisory services. https://www.irri.org/news [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Khanna, S. (2025). Socio-economic determinants of technology adoption in global farming communities. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 12(1), 45–59. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Li, X., Wang, X., & Zhang, J. (2022). Impact of educational attainment on farmers' risk perception and adoption of agricultural insurance. Sustainability, 14(5), 2841. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. MDPI. (2022). Land fragmentation and its impacts on agricultural productivity: A systematic review. Land, 11(8), 1256. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081256 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. OECD. (2023). Agricultural policy monitoring and evaluation 2023: Adapting agriculture to climate change (Philippines Chapter). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/b14de474-en [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. OECD. (2025). Agricultural policy monitoring and evaluation 2025: Strengthening digital registries and sustainable food security. OECD Publishing. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/agricultural-policymonitoring-and-evaluation-2025_a80ac398-en [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

47. Philippine Information Agency (PIA). (2021, October 26). Iloilo is chosen as DA RSBSA validation site. https://mirror.pia.gov.ph/news/2021/10/26/iloilo-is-chosen-as-da-rsbsa-validation-site [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

48. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). (2025). Addressing the vanishing farmer: Youth engagement in modern agribusiness. PIDS Policy Notes Series 2025-04. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

49. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). (2025). Climate change perceptions and climate finance mechanisms in the Philippines: A 2025 assessment. Discussion Paper 2025-37. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

50. Philippine Journal of Science. (2025). Aging Filipino rice farmers and their aspirations for their children. 154(3). https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

51. Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). (2018). Highlights of Accomplishments. Retrieved from https://www.philrice.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/2018-Highlights.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

52. Reario, M. R. A. (2024). Exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) in the Province of Isabela, Philippines. Educational Administration: Theory and Practice, 30(4), 6956–6967. https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v30i4.2498 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

53. Reario, M.R. (2024). Exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the registry system for basic sectors in agriculture (RSBSA) in the Province of Isabela, Philippines. Educational Administration: Theory And Practice, 30(4), 6956-6967Doi:10.53555/kuey.v30i4.2498. https://kuey.net/index.php/kuey/article/view/2498/1485 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

54. Republic of the Philippines. (2021). Guidelines for the validation activity of the updating of the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture. Department of Agriculture. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

55. Reyes, C. & Gloria R.A. (2017). Evaluation of the registry system for basic sectors in agriculture. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

56. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

57. https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1703_rev.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

58. Reyes, C., & Mina, C. (2024). Assessment of the targeting and financing aspects of the RSBSA-AIP. Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

59. Reyes, V., et al. (2024). Impact of government input subsidies on smallholder rice productivity: Evidence from Western Visayas. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 30(2), 112-125. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

60. Rola, A. C., Paunlagui, M. M., & Landicho, L. D. (2022). Climate risk management and crop insurance: Lessons from smallholder farmers in Iloilo Province. Southeast Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, 28(3), 201-215. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

61. Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). (2023). Demographic shifts in Southeast Asian agriculture: Challenges for the next decade. SEARCA Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

62. Sufyadi, D., & Apriadi, R. (2020). Factors influencing farmers' participation in agricultural insurance: A review. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology, 6(1), 102-108. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

63. Tangge, M. B., & Tamayo, A. M. (2025). Assessment of government programs for agriculture in Sarangani, Philippines. International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, 4(6), 2937. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

64. Tayactac, L. (2024). The impact of the Rice Tariffication Law on registered smallholder farmers. Philippine Social Science Journal, 7(1), 45-58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Decadal Overview of Welfare Schemes in Telangana (2014–2024)
• Ubuntu and the Missed Development Goals in the Global South: Rethinking MDGs and SDGs through an African Philosophical Lens
• Exploring the Factors of Obesity: Insights from Johor State Civil Servants
• Navigating the Nexus: Challenges Faced by Part-Time Postgraduate Government Employees in Malaysia
• The Lived Experiences of Skilled Filipino Women Immigrants in Denmark