ATI provides training opportunities on commodity-based technologies, along the food value chain, through the DA Banner Programs on rice, corn, organic agriculture, and high-value crops. Likewise, the Institute also focuses on the provision of social technology trainings in areas such as leadership and management, soft skills, project management, digital tools for agriculture, and agri-entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, ATI employs various extension approaches and strategies when conducting training activities. These include:
Ladderized Approach – ensures capability-enhancement and upscaling of competencies, based on trends, and their needs and demands. Identifying the basic, advanced, and specialized training programs will help extension professionals match the right intervention needed by its clients.
Face-to-face (F2F) – refers to carrying out a training similar to the traditional classroom setting. Whenever necessary, the conduct of F2F trainings implements the minimum health protocols per the recommendation of the Department of Health.
Distance Learning – takes place between the resource person and the learners who are geographically remote from each other during the training. Distance learning may utilize traditional media such as the radio and television and/or new media through the ATI’s official social media pages and/or through the e-learning portal, accompanied by hard copies of modules, hand-outs or other training materials provided to the participants to further understand the lessons.
Distance learning may be conducted synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous learning refers to when the participants can engage in learning with the resource person, real time. For this to occur, the resource person/s and the participants are on the same online platform at the same time. The benefits of synchronous learning include participant interaction, resulting in the exchange of knowledge and experiences, and real-time feedback from the resource person. In contrast, asynchronous learning is when the participants and resource person/s are not engaged in the learning process at the same time. Thus, no real-time interaction among the group. While this limits group interaction, asynchronous learning is advantageous to participants since they can learn on their own time and pace.
Some examples of distance learning trainings and activities carried out by the ATI are e-Learning, School-on-the-Air, webinars, and online trainings.
Blended Learning – combines the F2F sessions with any or a mix of online or modular distance learning. This strategy is utilized to ensure the effectiveness of training interventions which may require site visitations and/or actual technology demonstrations to complement distance learning activities. However, if F2F activities are not feasible, the participants may be asked to prepare their materials in advance so that an online hands-on tutorial is possible.
The Institute, with its network of training centers, is accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as a local provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program where licensed agriculture professionals will be able to earn CPD points by participating in ATI training programs.
Specialists Training Courses
Agricultural Development Officers of the Community (AgRIDOC)
The AgRiDOC is a season-long, experiential course with transformational leadership as its foundation. It is being implemented through the project, “Improving Technology Promotion and Delivery through Capability Enhancement of Next-Gen Rice Extension Professionals and Other Intermediaries” (IPAD), which aims to develop a new breed of rice extension experts by undergoing several rice-related training programs.
Specialists Course (CST/HVCDP)
The Specialists Training Course is a 4- to 4.5-month season-long training on Integrated Crops Management utilizing the non-formal education (NFE) approaches. It is intended for the RFO, ATI, LGU coordinators, and other government agencies that provide extension services to the LGUs and farmers. Graduates of this course are responsible for conducting succeeding season-long ToTs for AEWs and selected farmer-leaders, who in turn will conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFS) in their respective municipalities.
Specialist Training on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)
Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) are quality assurance initiatives that follow the production-to-consumption approach in providing guarantees on the integrity and quality of organic products. As an alternative and complementary tool to third-party certification, PGS plays a vital role in rural development and farmer empowerment through active engagement with the farmers in the whole process of verification, decision-making, and marketing. With its recognition by law, organic farmers will be able to get training and certification for their produce, without incurring heavy costs.
Training of Trainers Programs
Season-Long Training of Trainers (SL-TOT) for HVCDP
This training course focuses on crop production for the banner programs’ focal or technical staff. The graduates of this training course shall be responsible for the dissemination of these technologies in their respective regions. The course is a rigid training for a team of trainers who will in turn conduct FFS in crops-producing areas.
Season-Long Training of Trainers (SL-TOT) on Integrated Crop Management in Corn
This program is a comprehensive approach to crop production that combines the concepts and lessons on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM).
Training of Trainers (TOT) on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Fruits and Vegetables
This training is designed to familiarize participants with the content of Republic Act No. 10611, the Food Safety Act of 2013, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). It is also designed to provide knowledge on the basic principles of GAP standards, implementation mechanisms, and certification protocols for client dissemination.
Training of Trainers on Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program
This comprises training programs on innovative corn production technologies, postharvest machineries, and farm input assistance, among others. It is deemed an effective tool to raise the economies of small-scale farmers and their competitiveness in corn production. This intervention and support aims to enable the farmers to greatly reduce their cost of operations, achieve plentiful harvests, earn better income, and improve their quality of life.
Corn-based Farmer Scientist RDE Training Program (FSTP) – Training of Trainers
FSTP is an integrative and holistic agricultural research, development, and extension (RDE) methodology involving primarily the development of appropriate values of farmers engaged in crops such as corn, rice, vegetables, and animals in a corn-based production system to adopt scientific and sustainable methods of farming. It involves the learning and problem-solving processes in farming and as an enterprise through lectures and field experimentation, value formation, and resource mobilization from various stakeholders.
Training of Trainers on the Management of Fall Army Worm (FAW)
This training program is intended to ensure a long-term management option to control FAW infestation in crops. This TOT was designed to help create a pool of FAW experts who can be tapped to provide technical assistance to farmers in the field.
Climate Resilient Farm Business School (CRFBS) Training of Trainers
The training aims to create a pool of trainers to help upgrade farmers’ awareness, understanding, and learning to adapt not only to changing climate but also to reorient their families’ ecological and farm resources into economic units that will enable them to acquire knowledge on business farming.
Sustainable Corn Production in Sloping Areas (SCoPSA)
This is an innovative intervention in corn production to enhance the productivity level of corn through sustainable land use management. It aims to enhance the trainees’ awareness of the status, concepts, and principles of sloping land management, and the importance of protecting land resources in sloping areas planted to corn.
Site Specific Nutrient Management/Nutrient Expert in Maize Philippine (NEMP)
Nutrient Expert for Maize (Philippines) is a decision support tool for personal computers and Android platforms that enables local experts to quickly formulate fertilizer guidelines for hybrid, open-pollinated, and traditional varieties of maize in the country. This training aims to orient and familiarize the trainees in using the nutrient expert.
Skills Training in Corn and Cassava Processing, Labeling and Packaging
This training aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of the participants on product quality and safety management in corn processing and packaging, to ensure safe food and good health for consumers.
Training Course on Good Agriculture Practices – Code of Practice on the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin in Corn Grits
The course is a set of consolidated safety and quality standards formulated by the DA for the production, harvesting and on-farm postharvest handling and storage of corn. This intends to enhance the knowledge of the participants on the Code of Hygienic Practice in the Processing and Handling of Corn Grits as adopted by the Philippine National Standards (PNS), and the Code of Practice on the reduction of mycotoxin in corn grits.
Training towards Certification (ICS) Advanced Training
The role of the Internal Control System (ICS) is to be an official “control body”, which implies that certain basic requirements for organic inspection must be fulfilled. Organic standards implemented by each member of the group need to be evaluated and controlled. Standards inspection protocols are integral for the implementation of ICS. Hence, assistance to smallholder groups in this aspect is crucial to prepare them for certification and allow more market access to their products. The general objective of this training is to capacitate smallholder groups in the installation of ICS in their organic farming activities
Refresher Courses/Technology Updating Courses
These are a three-day training designed for the AEWs and farmer-leaders who are assigned under the DA's Banner Programs. It is intended to constantly update their knowledge and skills on sustainable farming technologies and practices that are essential in adapting to the seasonal change of extension delivery. Some of these technologies include land preparation; crop establishment; crop nutrition; integrated water management; integrated pest management; product stewardship; safe and responsible use of crops; and harvest and postharvest technology, among others.
Technical Briefing/Consultation for Implementers
Complementing the ATI training programs, this initiative is designed to reach and engage the program beneficiaries and its partner intermediaries. The Institute, with assistance from other DA offices, research institutions, SUCs, and LGUs, organizes Knowledge, Sharing, and Learning (KSL) activities in various forms, such as technical briefings. Each KSL is led by an expert in the relevant field, and typically consists of discussion of the introduced technology/service, current and emerging approaches and practices, relevant research/ field results, and success stories, as well as outlook at possible future trends and program directions