The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) conducted monitoring and evaluation of two (2) projects which were funded under the 2018 Extension Program for Agri-Fisheries and National Development (ExPAND), on March 3, 2021.
These projects were implemented by partner agencies in extension namely a) “Season-Long Training on School Children Field School (SCFS) on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Nutrition” conducted by the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) – City Schools Division of Batac, Ilocos Norte and b) “Establishment of Organic Goat and Free Range Native Chicken Production and Organic Fertilizer/Feeds Production” by the Anawim Institute of Mission for Cultural Transformation, Inc., Sinait, Ilocos Sur.
The SCFS of Dep-Ed Batac was done in three phases, namely 10-day Technical Training Course on Sustainable Vegetable Production for Teacher-Facilitators; Season-Long School Children Field School on Sustainable Vegetable Production; and Implementation of Re-entry Plans of 33 teacher-facilitators representing all elementary schools of Batac City who were trained during the first phase and 33 in the second phase.
ATI-RTC 1 and Dep-Ed personnel conduct site visitation of the SCFS technology demonstration area for vegetable production in Ba-ay Elementary School, Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
Five (5) technology demonstration sites for vegetable production were established in Batac City National High School, Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School, MaipaligQuiom ES, Camandingan ES, and Ba-ay ES. According to the coordinator, the produce of the demonstration sites were served to their students during feeding program.
On the other hand, the Anawim Institute of Mission for Cultural Transformation, Inc., one of ATI-RTC 1 accredited Learning Sites for Agriculture, trained 40 farmers including its staff on the production of organic fertilizer/feeds production in order to lower their production cost, increase farm productivity, and encourage innovations for food sufficiency.
The Institute also established organic goat and free range chicken production to showcase and intensify the promotion of the technology on integrated organic farming systems.
The monitoring and evaluation of projects under ExPAND started in 2020 and will continue until the end of 2021. This is to assess the status and results of implementation through site visitation and interview with the implementers.
ATI-RTC 1 personnel interviews the SCFS Project Coordinator of Dep-Ed Batac City, Ms. Marlene Castillo. (Photos by Keibriel Keill P. Arcilla)