A total of 2,540 farmers, agricultural extension workers, and agri-enthusiasts from the municipalities of Pola, Socorro, Victoria, Naujan, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, and Calapan City graduated from the School-on-the-Air on Smart Rice Agriculture on June 9, 2022, at the ATI-RTC MiMaRoPa, Barcenaga, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
OIC-Assistant Center Director Norberto C. Maur graced the activity and gave his welcome message to the participants. Distinguished guests Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar, ATI National Director Rosana Mula, and Regional Executive Director Antonio Gerundio also celebrated the success of SOA-SRA through pre-recorded messages played during the face-to-face activity.
“Rest assured that we at the Agricultural Training Institute, shall continue to support all your endeavors. We will continue to innovate ways to provide you with the most needed extension support services. This is our goal under the One DA Framework which we would like you, our rice farmers, to adopt modern technologies as you do your rice farming activities”, Dir. Mula said.
In his pre-recorded message Center Director Pat Andrew B. Barrientos of ATI-MiMaRoPa urged the graduates to maximize acquired learnings to their livelihoods and share it with their communities.
Moreover, Secretary Dar shared “Hindi matatawaran ang inyong sipag at determinasyon na matuto ng mga bagong pamamaraan sa pagtatanim ng palay na angkop sa panahon ngayon. Sa pamamagitan nito, sana tayo ay mas naging handa at naging resilient tayo sa kabila ng pagbabago sa klima na nararanasan natin ngayon. Because of the limitations brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, we maximized the use of radio to disseminate new information and technology to our Filipino farmers”.
In addition, Dir. Gerundio explained “Ang sitwasyon natin ngayon, kailangan talaga natin ng kasapatan ng pagkain. Kaya mahalaga sa ngayon na hinikayat ng Kagawaran na Pagsasaka na mas lalong pagandahin ang ating pagtatanim. Kahit kulang tayo sa mga pataba, meron tayong alternatibong mapagkukunan nito. Gamit ang tamang teknolohiya sa pagsasaka at makabagong pamamaraan, tataas ang ating kita”.
Afterward, Mr. Erlan D. Pasana, Information Officer II/SOA Point Person of the ATI-RTC MiMaRoPa gave his presentation to reminisce the activities being undertaken during the whole duration of the SOA-SRA program. Also, four (4) graduates were asked to give their impressions throughout the implementation of the SOA-SRA program.
Then, Mr. Maur confirmed the graduates as well as facilitated the awarding of the certificates to the graduates along with Mr. Pasana. It was followed by the recognition of the top ten (10) SOA-SRA Outstanding Students. Awards such as rice seeds, fertilizers, and knapsack sprayers were given to the outstanding students and avid texters of the program.
Lastly, Mr. Pasana gave his closing message, “Ang ATI MiMaRoPa ay patuloy na hahanap ng bagong pamamaraan para maipaabot sa inyo ang mga makabagong kaalaman at teknolohiya sa pagsasaka ng palay. Sana gamitin ninyo at ibahagi ninyo ang inyoing natutunan sa iba para makamit natin ang ating inaasam na mataas na ani at kita”.
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