DILIMAN, Quezon City -- To keep pace with the evolving agriculture and fisheries extension (AFE) landscape and maintain the relevance of the guidelines in the provision of training grants, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) held a series of consultations with key AFE partners and its operating units. This review and update process aimed to develop a more streamlined and comprehensive set of guidelines, enhancing the delivery of training grants to various AFE service providers across the country.
Through the AFE Training Grants System, the Institute intends to encourage stakeholder participation, particularly from private-sector farmer groups, by funding their training and extension activities. With this, a wider range of AFE clients such as farmers, fisherfolk, and relevant stakeholders along the value chain can be reached to improve their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practices, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the sector.
To gather input for the revisions, ATI conducted three virtual consultation meetings on August 7, August 8, and September 4, 2024. A total of 72 participants joined, representing selected Private Agricultural and Fisheries-Extension Service Providers, national government agencies, Learning Sites for Agriculture operators, and ATI operating units from the Central Office and from the Training Centers.. The feedback collected during these consultations was incorporated into the final draft of the updated guidelines, which was then presented to the ATI Clearinghouse Committee last September 20, 2024.
Once approved, the document will serve as the reference for extension service providers and other stakeholders in the provision of training grants which is coursed through the ATI Clearinghouse System.
