BUTUAN CITY – In continuous pursuit of its mandate to professionalize the agricultural extension workforce, the Agricultural Training Institute offers various scholarship grants to aid them in their career development.

One of these is the provision of thesis and dissertation assistance to support ongoing students of Master’s and Doctorate degrees through a financial subsidy aiding the conduct of their research studies.

The grant is open to AEWs of the Department of Agriculture including its Bureaus and Attached Agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) specifically those who are currently pursuing a higher education degree in Agriculture, Fisheries, and related courses. A PhP 100,000 financial support will be afforded to deserving MS thesis grantees, while PhD Dissertation studies will be provided with PhP 250,000 subsidy.

To be eligible to the grant, the applicant must meet the following requirement: he/she must be enrolled in any AF and related multi-disciplinary course programs, in any of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs); his/her course program must be in line with the mandate of his/her agency; the applicant must be a permanent employee for at least two (2) years in the DA, and/or its bureau/attached agency/office, LGU and SUC; must have a rating of at least Very Satisfactory (VS) in the Individual Performance and Commitment Review (IPCR) for two (2) consecutive rating periods immediately preceding the application; he/she must be endorsed by the Agency Head; must not be more than 55 years old at the time of application; he/she must not be under any form of scholarship for his/her graduate studies; must already have an approved research proposal by the Graduate School Panel; and his/her Research proposal must be in line with the priority thrusts of the DA.

The grant will fund studies under the DA priority areas such Post-Harvest Management, Markets and Marketing, Sustainable Agriculture, Plant Genetic Resources, Seed Systems and Pathology, Pests and Disease of Crops, Livestock and Fisheries, Crop and Livestock Improvement, Precision Agriculture, Extension Education, Evaluation/Impact Studies, and Aquaculture and Fisheries.
Interested applicants must submit the following documentary requirements to the ATI Central Office on or before July 25, 2022: Copy of latest Registration Form, certified copy of duties and responsibilities or Position Description Form (PDF), latest Personal Data Sheet (PDS) with 2x2 picture certified by the Agency’s Human Resource Officer, certified copies of the IPCR for the last two (2) periods, endorsement letter signed by the Head of Agency/Office, Latest PDS with 2x2 picture certified by the Agency’s HR Officer, certification from the Agency’s HR that the applicant is not under any form of scholarship at the time of availment, Research proposal approved by the Graduate School Panel; Application Letter, certification of Good Moral Character, and Gantt chart or timetable of activities of the Research Study.

The grant aims to produce a pool of professionals, competitive and well-equipped extension workers that are ready to serve the Agriculture and Fisheries (AF) sector.