In line with the regional celebration of the 9th Organic Agriculture Month, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) and the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) conducted the Regional Kabataang Organic Agriculture (OA) Quiz Bee at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara on November 14, 2023.
The objective of the activity was to create awareness among youth about organic agriculture and ultimately to boost enrolment in agriculture and other agriculture-related courses.
During the opening program, ATI-RTC 1 Assistant Center Director Dr. Josephine K. Aben and DA-RFO 1 Field Operations Division Chief Ms. Analiza R. Ramos expressed their messages to inspire the delegates of the activity. It was commonly highlighted in their words the vital role of the youth in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
The quiz bee was delegated by 20 agriculture students enrolled at the different state universities and colleges in Region 1, namely Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), and Pangasinan State University (PSU).
A board of examiners from DA-RFO 1 and ATI-RTC 1 was created and served as panelists during the activity. The quiz bee proper was divided into three rounds – easy, moderate, and difficult. Questions administered revolved around the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 and 2021; Basic Principle of OA; Latest Philippine National Standards on OA; Concoction, Extracts, and Fertilizer Productions; Crop Production; Organic Aquaculture; Livestock and Poultry Productions; Participatory Guarantee Systems; and Current Events Related to OA.
At the end of the competition, Ms. Rouchel C. Agapito from PSU was hailed as the regional champion, followed by Ms. Cinderella E. Ringor from DMMMSU who bagged the second place, and Ms. Kaye Irish T. Millare from ISPSC winning the third spot.
Ms. Agapito will represent the region at the national quiz bee level scheduled on November 22-24 at the ATI-Central Office, Diliman, Quezon City. Meanwhile, all regional delegates will be receiving recognition and cash prizes during the regional culmination of the OA month celebration on November 28 at ATI-RTC 1.
The conduct of the OA quiz bee is one of the strategies of the Department of Agriculture to engage the youth in agriculture and one way to empower them in taking the road towards a productive and sustained agricultural landscape.
