For the second time, the Department of Agriculture training arm, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in CALABARZON, will capacitate another batch of 500 coconut farmers in the region through its School-on-the-Air (SOA) program under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
Following the consultative meeting with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region IV and participating local government units (LGUs) last April 11, ATI CALABARZON will launch the SOA program on May 23, 2024, at Kititay’s Farm in Magdalena, Laguna.
Dubbed as “Masaganang COCO-buhayan: Radyo Eskwela sa Pagniniyugan,” the program aims to strengthen the coconut industry in CALABARZON by highlighting its potential as a sustainable livelihood and innovative enterprise for farmers.
The first batch of SOA under CFIDP last year focused on coconut production and processing with graduate participants coming solely from Quezon. This time around, the said SOA will highlight good agricultural practices (GAP) for coconut, catering to coconut farmers across the region.
Specifically, participants will come from 10 LGUs namely Agoncillo, Batangas; Magallanes, Cavite; Atimonan, General Nakar, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, and Real in Quezon; and Luisiana, San Pablo City, and Magdalena in Laguna, as identified by PCA Region IV because of their thriving coconut industry.
For the said SOA, a total of 20 episodes will be broadcast live on Facebook page and YouTube channel of ATI CALABARZON and partner radio stations in the region. These will air every Wednesday and Friday starting June 19, 2024, and are expected to run until August this year.
Radio teachers will come from a pool of coconut specialists and subject matter specialists from various attached agencies and bureaus under DA, particularly the PCA Region IV.
In the course of the program, ATI CALABARZON will administer various quizzes and tests to assess the knowledge and understanding of participants. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion during their graduation rites.
By A.Linsasagin
