The Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute, on its continuous support to attain food security in the country and strengthen local agricultural industry, recently launched a corporate book featuring the success stories of its young farmer partners through its regional training center in Northern Mindanao.
As its fifth corporate book, Bahandi - Batang Agricultural Extensionist (Bahandi - BAE) contains 15 success stories of its young farmer partners in Region 10. It showcases their passion in farming as well as their contribution in the agriculture sector. Moreover, the book highlights the center’s intervention by amplifying efforts to empower and assist young farmers, at the same time promote agriculture to the youth.
Bahandi-BAE chronicles the farming success and captures their resiliency, determination, farming initiatives, and outstanding efforts in mitigating hunger through farming. Moreover, through the book, ATI aims to broaden the perspective of the youth on the potential of agriculture to improve their livelihood and standard of living.
In her speech during the Bahandi-BAE book launching, ATI Center Director Maria Lydia Echavez thanked the young farmers for sharing “practical knowledge, life experiences and accomplishments in providing food and sustenance through agriculture.”
Center Director Echavez also expressed appreciation to the young farmers and Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) partners who were present during the event for their cooperation in the fruition of the book despite the ongoing pandemic.
“It is remarkable to see that you continue to work on your farm despite the pandemic, indeed, there is no pandemic stronger than the hands (or hearts) that work together” she said as she addressed the farmers who were present at book launching the event.
Launched on January 27 during the Institute’s founding anniversary, Bahandi-BAE also intends to empower and inspire young Filipino farmers from all walks of life, as ATI remains committed in documenting the transformative power of agriculture. Through ATI’s various programs and interventions, ATI hopes to empower its young farmers with appropriate farming technologies, and to mitigate the effects of the country’s aging farmers.