TAIWAN - The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in partnership with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) is currently on its third year of the implementation of Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan (FYFIPT). The program is a comprehensive endeavor, targeting young farmer leaders to equip them with essential skills and knowledge in modern agricultural and fisheries technologies.
Aiming to become agricultural entrepreneurs, the internship in Taiwan will enable the young farmers to acquire skills and knowledge on modern agriculture and fisheries technologies including value chain management, cooperative management, and enhancement of competencies, discipline, and values.
Recently, the ATI sent a monitoring team headed by Assistant Director Antonieta J. Arceo to assess the current situation of the young interns and identify issues and concerns that need to be addressed. The team, which included Center Director Rogelio Evangelista of ATI Regional Training Center I and RBO Focal Person Veronica Siloy of ATI Regional Training Center in Cordillera Administrative Region, was assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture in Taiwan (MOA) and Agricultural Technology Research Institute (ATRI) in Taiwan.
Four districts were visited, namely Changhua, Chiayi, Pingtung, and Hualien, with 23 interns deployed in these districts. Each district offers unique insights for the young farmer interns’ learning journey such as the types of agricultural practices, local challenges and opportunities for growth, and the overall integration of the interns into their respective work environments.
During the site visits, both the host farmer and the interns were interviewed and provided their comments regarding their experiences and performances. The monitoring team likely gained a diverse perspective on the experiences of the interns within different agricultural and regional contexts.
Based on the outcomes of the operational monitoring , the ATI intends to analyze the findings, discuss the observations, and consider actionable steps based on the assessment's outcomes to enhance the program's effectiveness and ensure the interns' betterment.
