The Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Network (RAFEN) is a conglomeration of more than thirty (30) agencies from the national, regional and provincial levels working together to advance extension innovations in Region 1.
Since 2016, RAFEN 1 has established a program called “Timpuyog idiay Away, Dur-as inna Iburay”, in one municipality and one barangay each of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. At present, the RAFEN group in each province is now on its final stage or the “getting out” process in the said areas, hence, a sustainability plan through a Consultation Workshop was done last February 23-24 and March 2-4, 2021.
Representatives from RAFEN 1 member agencies with extension interventions in Brgy. Sto. Nino, Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte
The consultation workshop, dubbed as Sustainability Initiatives for RAFEN Model Areas through Technology Adaptation (SIRMATA), aimed to formulate plans on how to sustain the projects under the said program and what will be the roles of both the implementers and the beneficiaries to such plans.
Timpuyog is an iluko term for convergence, and dur-as inna iburay means an improved quality of living, the expected turnout of the poor pilot barangays after the interventions of the RAFEN member agencies. These barangays are Sto. Nino, Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte; Cabaroan, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur; Imelda, Burgos, La Union; and D’ Alarcio, Laoac, Pangasinan.
It can be recalled that since the rolling of the program, different extension projects were established in the said communities. These served different groups to include farmers, rural women, youth, and senior citizens who were organized; capacitated on production and processing technologies on high value crops, mushroom, bamboo, and livestock such as swine, goat and sheep. Starter kits were also provided to start their livelihood.
RAFEN 1 constitutes 35 agencies from the National Government Agencies (NGAs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs), and Private Sector.
On-set of the consultation workshop with the Timpuyog Program beneficiaries in Brgy. D’ Alarcio, Laoac, Pangasinan to assess their extension needs to sustain their projects under the Timpuyog Program. (Photos credit to Keibriel Keill Arcilla)