The Agricultural Training Institute โ Central Luzon (ATI-CL) conducted a five-day Training of Trainers on Pest and Disease Management for Onion, equipping 31 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Zambales with enhanced technical and communication skills.
Held from April 26 to 30, 2026, the training aimed to strengthen the capacity of AEWs in assisting farmers in addressing pests and diseases that affect onion productionโone of the regionโs major agricultural commodities. Participants were introduced to the identification of common onion pests and diseases and were oriented on strategies under integrated pest and disease management.
Discussions also covered Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to promote safer, more efficient, and sustainable farming. In addition, AEWs were guided on how to simplify technical concepts, enabling them to effectively communicate and translate knowledge into practical applications for farmers.
A key highlight of the training was the micro-teaching sessions, where participants took on the role of trainers and delivered lessons based on the topics discussed. The activity served as a platform to evaluate both their technical understanding and their ability to convey information clearly and confidently.
In a message, Officer-in-Charge Center Director Orogo emphasized the critical role of AEWs in agricultural development. โYou are at the frontlines of agricultural development. The knowledge you gain here does not end in this trainingโit reaches our farmers and helps improve their livelihoods,โ the director said.
For many participants, the training was both insightful and empowering. โThis training really helped us better understand how to identify and manage pests and diseases in onion. Mas kampante na kami ngayon na i-share ito sa aming mga magsasaka,โ shared Jovelle Lubos, AEW from Nueva Ecija.
Another participant appreciated the value of the hands-on activities. โThe microteaching sessions challenged us, but at the same time, they helped us become more confident in explaining technical topics in a simpler way,โ Jonalyn Maรฑalac added.
All 31 participants successfully completed the training and are expected to apply their learnings in their respective localities, contributing to improved onion production and stronger support for farmers across Central Luzon.
