Each site will consist of a PalayCheck demonstration field to showcase the recommended practices; a group of rice farmers; and a facilitator or resource person. The demonstration field is a selected farmer’s field (farmer-partner). Preferably, the field should be at least 0.5 ha located along the roadside, beside a non-technology-intervened field, and near the farmers’ meeting area.

Seed and fertilizer inputs may be provided to ensure that the recommended practices are followed. The demo field will be the basis for evaluating the strength and weaknesses of the farmers’ management and discussing as well as learning the necessary adjustments to improve yield and profit. The neighboring members of the group (farmer-cooperators) have the option to adopt or not to adopt PalayCheck recommendations.

The participants for PalayCheck are a group of 15-25 farmers belonging to a community or neighborhood. The group will meet before, during, and after the cropping season to review the management practices, pest incidence, growth and yield results, and weather condi-tions; compare the PalayCheck demo field with the farmer-cooperators’ fields; discuss reasons for achieving or not achieving the Key Checks based on their knowledge and experience, plan for the next meeting’s activities; and record the activities and results of the demo field and the farmer-cooperators’ fields.

The management practices, achievement or non-achievement of Key Checks, and yield results will be evaluated per site. The evaluation will be presented during the last meeting (after harvest) wherein there is an ultimate analysis and interpretation of the achievement of Key Checks and the yield results of each farmer-cooperator and PalayCheck farmer-partner.

Though the PalayCheck System helps farmers achieve high yield through proper crop management, it is essential that the learning process be highlighted. The learning process takes place before, during, and after each planting season. Farmers can compare their actual performance and management with the expected outputs (yield, quality, and environmental outcomes) as indicated by the achieved Key Checks. Due to limited resources, there are instances when farmer-cooperators do not embrace all the PalayCheck recommendations. Successes, problems, and failures can be identified and therefore, improvements in the next season can be made.

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