PASAY CITY โ Two Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs) accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) were recently recognized during the Coconut Stakeholders Congress and Coconut Industry Sustainability (COINS) Awards.
With a theme, โRegenerating the Coconut Economy, Future-Proofing the Coconut Value Chain,โ the recognition highlighted how young and seasoned farmers are future-proofing the industry through innovation and sustainable practices.ย
Alfred Justin D. Amorado of APA Farms, which is under the APA Empire Landholdings, Inc., received the Promising Young Coconut Farmer-Entrepreneur Award. During the same event, Dennis C. Famadico, owner of Jokโs Farm, was recognized for his recent distinction as the Outstanding Coconut Farmer during the 51st Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Farmer and Fishers.
With APA Farms as an ATI-accredited LSA, Amoradoโs recognition highlights the potential of young farmers to pursue coconut farming beyond primary production by integrating entrepreneurship, value-adding, and other farm-based enterprises. Through APA Farms, agricultural production is complemented by initiatives in agritourism, conservation, and enterprise development, providing opportunities for experiential learning and knowledge-sharing.
Meanwhile, Famadico, who hailed from the Zamboanga Peninsula region, shared his experiences in developing a sustainable coconut-based enterprise through a session on โGrowing Beyond Farming: Building a Sustainable Coconut Agribusiness.โ His participation highlighted how experiences from the farm can be shared with fellow coconut farmers and other industry stakeholders.
The recognition of Amorado and Famadico reflects the important role of ATI-accredited LSAs as venues for farmer-to-farmer learning, technology demonstration, enterprise development, and the promotion of good agricultural practices. Beyond serving as successful farm enterprises, LSAs provide farmers and other agricultural stakeholders with opportunities to learn from actual farming experiences and locally applicable practices.
Through its network of LSAs nationwide, ATI continues to support farmer-leaders and farm enterprises that serve as partners in advancing an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable agriculture and fisheries extension system.ย
The COINS Awards was one of the highlights of the 40th National Coconut Week Celebration spearheaded by the Philippine Coconut Authority to recognize achievements in export development, sustainable farming, enterprise growth, farm diversification, innovation, corporate social responsibility, local governance, and the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. The awarding ceremony was held last September 11, 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
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