Intending to come up with harmonized training programs and other extension activities for fiscal year 2023, as well as identify the training needs intervention for 2024, a series of provincial consultations in Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental transpired recently.
The consultations were participated by staff from the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) and Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Local Government Units (LGUs), farm owner and operators of Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA), and other partner stakeholders.
Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez during a consultation in Baroy, Lanao del Norte emphasized the importance of the said activity as it gathers need-based capability development initiatives to actors in the agricultural extension service especially the agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farmer-leaders in the region.
“ATI and the Department of Agriculture have limited resources, that is why we have to prioritize what our clients need. Our mandate is to train our extension workers, as well as our farmers, the youth, women and even those from the marginalized sector. Again, we have limited resources, so we have to make sure that your proposals are doable, feasible, and fundable” Director Echavez said.
Aside from production, she also encouraged the participants to consider other training programs along the value chain such as training about processing, packaging, and marketing.
“Our tagline is new --- Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya--- it is not only about the ‘Ani at Kita’ anymore but the Department of Agriculture and the administration are now looking at a much bigger scale” she added.
The consultation was conducted through a workshop methodology named “World Café” wherein booths classified into Livestock, Corn, Rice/RCEF, HVCDP, Coconut/CFIDP, Organic Agriculture, LSA/Youth/RBO, Social Technology, and Information Services were set up for the participants. # (JA Jadraque)
