ATI Compound, El Salvador City---To further inspire and empower Filipinos from all walks of life and from the different sectors, the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) remains committed in documenting the transformative power of agriculture.

The center, through the Information Services (IS) team along with OIC-Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez and OIC-Assistant Center Director Noemi Beth G. Macario, led the cover reveal of its newest publications, the “BAHANDI: NextGen Edition”, “BAE (Batang Agricultural Extensionist) also known as Bahandi: Young Farmers Edition” and “GRIT: Chronicling the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) Project Farmer Beneficiaries of Kiabo, Malitbog, Bukidnon” during the Institute’s 33rd Founding Anniversary on January 29-30, 2020.

The info team composing of OIC-Section Chief Maria Eloisa A. Akut, Information Officer Honeylou C. Bastasa, Media Production Specialist Vic Thor Palarca and in house visual artist Jeric L. Cabatac spearheaded the said cover reveal with the following publications to be produced this year:

BAHANDI: NextGen Edition - A Collection of Inspiring Stories of Farmer Agripreneurs in Region X

Apart from the importance of connecting to the new generation of farmers and keeping them in the limelight, Bahandi: NextGen intends to showcase the featured farmers’ invaluable experiences and huge life lessons of producing and value-adding while offering immense understanding of farming which will serve as an avenue for the readers to make informed decisions as producers and consumers.

BAE (Batang Agricultural Extensionist) also known as Bahandi: Young Farmers Edition, a Collection of Inspiring Stories of Young Farmers in Region X

It is imperative that the center recognize the potential of what the young farmers can do for the economy and for the future of agriculture and farming. After all, these young farmers will be soon responsible for maintaining a food-sufficient Philippines. As the dawn of a new era in agriculture unfolds, the young farmers featured in BAE (Batang Agricultural Extortionist) or Bahandi: Young Farmers Edition will leave a mark of legacies in their own right. Moreover, through the book, ATI aims to broaden the perspective of Filipinos, especially the youth, on the potential of agriculture to improve their livelihood.

GRIT: Chronicling the Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) Project Farmer Beneficiaries of Kiabo, Malitbog, Bukidnon

The project is a comprehensive platform to capacitate a community of Indigenous People in responding to the effects of changing weather patterns that affect production and farm operation. Our training and extension initiatives intends to contribute in building a climate-resilient agriculture and fishery livelihoods and communities despite challenges of climate change and to transform them into a “Climate Informed Community”. The stories capture their resiliency, determination, initiatives, and outstanding efforts in mitigating hunger through farming in Kiabo, Malitbog, Bukidnon.

Since producing and publishing the first coffee table book through BAHANDI in 2016, it was met with warm reception among readers and farming enthusiasts. The center’s intention was to capture their farmer partners’ success and their farming endeavors through words that would ultimately inspire those who want to venture in agriculture and the way of life of nurturing and keeping the country well-fed and to make the country food sufficient. From the warm reception came Bahandi II and Gastronomica, which were also met with heavy compliments here and abroad.

It is with such compliments, coupled with the center’s drive to do more and serve its patrons and customers better and inspire other people from all walks of life that it continues and still pursue writing stories and package them in one handy reading material.