The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center VIII (ATI-RTC 8) presented the Youth Scholarship Grant on Organic Farming to the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO 8) on January 22, 2024 at DA-RFO 8, Tacloban City. It is a 21-month internship program for the youth to imbibe the life of a farmer and organic practices fully. It comprises nine months of schooling, on-site training for the farm partners, and one year of hands-on practice and implementation of the proposed organic enterprise.
Ms. Graciel V. Gacutan, ATI-RTC 8 OA focal person, furtherly discussed with DA-RFO 8 Regional Executive Director (RED) Andrew Rodolfo T. Orais the program's scope, objectives, procedures, and guidelines. She elaborated on the composition and responsibilities of the Regional Selection and Screening Committee, highlighting the important role of DA-RFO 8 and OA Focal Persons as essential stakeholders and co-signatories.
Dir. Orais expressed his support for the said program, recognizing it as a "much better approach to encourage youth to engage in organic farming." He assigned Ms. Lor Fatima Bucatcat, DA-RFO 8’s OA focal person, to assist in documenting the interns' experiences and provide technical and logistical support for the scholars’ organic farm certification.
The positive reception from DA-RFO 8 strengthens the successful implementation of the program and signifies a strategic alignment of efforts to promote organic agriculture among the youth.
