In a bid to strengthen the coconut industry and enhance agricultural sustainability in the Ilocos Region, the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) recently concluded the second batch of its Training of Trainers (TOT) on Coconut Production and Nursery Establishment held from June 2 to 6, 2025, at IMA Integrated Farm in Brgy. Caparispisan, Pagudpud. The five-day training brought together 30 participants, including 24 coconut farmer-leaders and 6 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the municipalities of Pagudpud and Dumalneg.
The initiative aimed to equip local farmers and extension workers with the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary to improve coconut farming practices and establish community-level nurseries. These efforts are part of ATI-RTC 1’s broader mission to promote sustainable agricultural development across the region.
Resource persons from the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and ATI-RTC 1 facilitated the sessions, which featured a combination of in-depth lectures and hands-on demonstrations on coconut planting techniques, farm layout planning, and proper fertilization methods.
At the conclusion of the training, each participant earned 12 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and crafted a group action plan outlining their role as trainers in future local capacity-building programs.
ATI-RTC 1 continues to lead various agricultural and community-based programs in collaboration with local government units and farmers’ organizations. These ongoing efforts aim to build a more resilient, knowledgeable, and self-sufficient farming sector in Pagudpud, Dumalneg, and the greater Ilocos Region.
