As capacity builders in the field of extension, 21 Agricultural Extension Workers from the Province of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Lanao del Norte were trained through the five-day Extension Delivery System in May 30-June 3, 2022 at ATI RTC X, Poblacion, El Salvador City Misamis Oriental.

During the training, the participants were able to walk through the different roles and responsibilities of a facilitator, wherein they also identified the different skills that a good facilitator should have. The training was composed of three learning modules with different lessons, to wit:

Module 1:
Basic of Agricultural Extension
Trends in Agricultural Extension
Key Players in Agricultural Extension
Key Players in Agricultural Extension
Module 2:
Agricultural Extension/ Approaches strategies and methods
Project, Modalities, Interventions & Innovations
Module 3:
Basic of communication
Role of communication
Communication in the context of AE
Presentation skills
Facilitation skills

As the participants have said, their job as extension workers really requires hard work and patience, especially when dealing with different types of people. Loreta M. Cordero, AEW from PAO Bukidnon says, “this is not an easy job, but this is definitely a fulfilling one. Applying the methods and approaches that we have learned here will be the key to bridging the gap between research and farmers.”

In the pursuit of creating development and positive changes for their future clients, the participants were able to showcase their learnings by participating in the microteaching session. Panelists also had the chance to critique their presentations and gave out some tips for them to improve their delivery.

“I am very excited to share what I have learned here with my colleagues in the office once I get back. I realized that aside from the things I've already been doing in the field, I still lack many things, most especially on how to communicate and deliver my message to them. And with that, I am grateful to ATI,” says Daniel B. Tomonglay, AEW from Claveria.

In her closing message, Center Director, Ms. Maria Lydia A. Echavez, thanked the participants for giving in their full time and attention to the 5-day training. It wasn’t easy, but they accomplished it, all in the hopes of serving our clients better. She also reminded the participants that though their views may differ from one another, she hopes that they will all become like a glass filled with water, “it does not matter if you see it as half full or half empty, but what is important is that you still have a space for learning.”

The Extension Delivery System is a training course that aims to provide the participants with the understanding of what extension is, who and what are the clients of extension, and what extension workers must be to deliver development endeavors in the community. #