AD Esquejo stressed extension role in FIELDS

The first FIELDS Information Caravan and Techno Clinic in Region VIII kicked-off at the Samar Provincial Gymnasium in Catbalogan City on October 22, 2008.  More than a thousand (1,045) participants mostly farmers from the province of Samar attended the event.

In her speech, ATI Assistant Director Evelyn Aro-Esquejo explained the role of extension in the FIELDS program of the government.  The FIELDS is an acronym for Fertilizer, Irrigation, Extension, education and training, Loans, Dryers and Seeds. She emphasized that the information caravan which is under Extension is spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and that through extension, research results are shared to the farmers who will apply them in their farms to increase and enhance their production for higher income.

Dir. Esquejo also stressed that extension in the Philippines is the major responsibility of the local government units.  However, the national government still gives full support in many ways.  In the Department of Agriculture (DA), the ATI is mandated to strengthen its linkage with the LGUs in extending help and support to the farmers.  Collaborating with ATI in providing extension and training to the agricultural extension workers, subject matter specialists and farmers are the Bureau of Agriculture Research, State Universities and Colleges, PhilRice and the private sectors such as seed companies, seed growers and the like. The DA also delivers training programs such as Palaycheck, Minus-One Element Technique (MOET), and the use of the Leaf Color Chart to complete the services given to farmers in terms of modern technologies.