The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02, Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 02, and Philippine Carabao Center had officiated the launched the Year-Round Opportunities for Upscaled Technical Assistance for Herds through Artificial Insemination (YOUTH for AI) Project during the 1st Quarter Assessment of the National Livestock Program at the Seed Hotel in Buntun, Tuguegarao City, on March 24, 2025.
The Youth for AI is a collaborative initiative designed to equip out-of-school youth with specialized skills in artificial insemination (AI) and pregnancy diagnosis for large ruminants. This partnership seeks to empower young individuals by training them to become certified AI technicians, addressing several critical challenges in the agricultural sector.
To formalize the collaboration, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed, with the event witnessed by Dr. Claro Mingala, Director of the DA-NLP, and Dr. Nover Calub, Deputy Director of the program. Regional Executive Director Dr. Rose Mary G. Aquino, Dr. Claris Marayag-Alaska, OIC Center Director, and Dr. Maurieann Turingan, Senior Agricultutrist, were present in the said launching ceremonies.
The project specifically targets key issues such as the low acceptance and adoption of AI in livestock breeding, limited awareness and knowledge about AI practices, a shortage of qualified AI technicians, and a lack of essential AI tools and equipment.
Moreover, the project seeks to lower the
-Dr. Maurieanne Turingan, Senior Agriculturist
