TARLAC CITY — The Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture has allotted P12.3 million for its training programs in Central Luzon this year.
The programs cover capacity building in high value crops production, organic agriculture, rice production, corn production and livestock production.
ATI Region 3 Center director Veronica Esguerra said that a total of 313 training activities have been slated with 49 for Nueva Ecija, 48 for Bulacan, 46 for Zambales, 45 each for Bataan and Pampanga, and 40 each for Tarlac and Aurora.
ATI also aims to conduct radio-based trainings regarding new farming technologies in Aurora targetedto reach some 3,000 rice farmers.
Esguerra said the trainings depend on the interventions forwarded to them by local government units.
“Our consultations with the provincial agriculturist offices and municipal agriculturist offices help us know what topics must be discussed with the farmers in line with their needs,” Esguerra said.
She said organizations or cooperatives who wish to undergo trainings should communicate with the PAO or MAO in their localities.
Esguerra assured that training materials and food for face-to-face trainings are provided by the agency.
“Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we only accommodate 50 percent capacity in our training centers which is 15-20 participants only per batch,” she said.
Esguerra encouraged farmers or households interested to learn more in the different areas of agriculture to participate in their seminars.
“We believe in ATI that learning never stops and so we also do not stop in imparting knowledge and providing trainings about agriculture especially in this time of crisis we saw that planting is one way to survive,” she stressed. – Gabriela Liana Barela/PIA–3
