SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur -The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 recently conducted a post assessment of the TIER II program that was implemented in the province of Agusan del Sur for 2 years which runs from 2017-2018.

This is in cooperation with the Provincial and Municipal Local Government Units of Agusan del Sur specifically its Agriculture Office.

More than 50 participants comprising barangay officials, farmer-leaders, barangay agricultural workers (BAWs), agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and Municipal Agriculturists of the 14 municipalities of Agusan del Sur joined in the said assessment.

Provincial Agriculturist Matt Valiente expressed his profound gratitude to the ATI Caraga staff for the success of the T2 program. “I really appreciate ATI staff for they reached out to the far-flung barangays just to help and teach our farmers on various farming activities that would help sustain their livelihood,” Valiente stated during the program.

According to him, this is the greatest challenge for us now on how to sustain the project that has a positive impact to the recipients thinking that T2 program will have to end so soon. “We will harmonize and marry this program to the banner programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government for easy monitoring. This assessment is a good avenue for us to proceed into the next level,” addressed Valiente to the MAs present.

Moreover, Barangay Captains also extended their thanks to the T2 program of ATI. For them, this program helped a lot in combating malnutrition in their respective barangay. “Thank you ATI for this T2 program because Brgy. Milagros, made it as a top performing barangay in Esperanza, ADS due to the decrease of malnourished children in the locality,” said Capt. Angelito Balili.

Municipal Agriculturist Cesar Burdeos of San Luis, ADS said that the T2 program is known to be efficient and effective one which helped in alleviating poverty after presenting the household income and expenses of the said recipients.

There’s only one wish from the bottom of their heart and that is to continue the T2 program.

Ms. Nena Lomuntad, ATI’s Planning Officer II and T2 program’s project officer assured participants that their requests will be discussed at the ATI Central Office for the possible funding or additional programs that will be implemented soon.

The T2 program aims at enhancing knowledge and skills on Agricultural Productivity for food security and poverty alleviation in the identified barangays of the said province.

The barangays with household income below the poverty level were included as recipients to the program. Various training, capability enhancement and after-training support were given to the recipients.

They were taught with the processes or steps of having an organic vegetable production, raising free range native chicken with chicken net, fishpond with tilapia raised on it and other corresponding materials needed. The recipients also received cash assistance as additional support.

The post assessment was conducted on January 17-18, 2018 at Mabe’s Savory Place, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.