Dumaguete City - Over 150 agri-enthusiasts and stakeholders participated in the first regional-initiated Agritalk of the Agricultural Training Institute -VII (ATI-7) at Robinson's Mall, this city on September 18, 2019.

Agritalk which tackles Square Foot Gardening, Urban Gardening, and Mushroom Production, is one of ATI's strategies in extension services to serve the clientele beyond boundaries. With the idea that food production may not be limited to rural areas, urban dwellers can also grow/produce their food at their backyard or whatever available spaces in their households.
The event is in collaboration with Robinson's Land Corporation-Dumaguete City, Philippine Information Agency, Provincial Agriculture Office, and City Agriculture Office of Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City, respectively.

Meanwhile, Agritalk which originally conducted by the ATI Central office in partnership with the Bureau of Agricultural Research, SM Mall and Agriculture Magazine of the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation has been rolled out in selected cities Nationwide since 2018. ATI-7 saw the need to conduct the same, thus, initiated its first in Region 7. Through PIA Negros Oriental, Quad Media representatives also covered the event.

Speakers for square foot gardening is Dr. Honorio Cervantes of Cervantes Farm in Cagayan de Oro City; Urban Gardening by Nimfa Davis of the Department of Agriculture Region 7, and Jotham Tanasan of Joeltess Farm, Bayawan City for Mushroom production.

For the participants to appreciate and practice the gardening techniques, they were given free seeds as starter kit after the event.

Doris Isabel J. Racho, Information Officer II was the project officer of the activity together with her support staff in the persons of Ma. Erma F. Lucero, IOIII; Rhea Kristene Bongcac, Network Controller and Dr. Merrian Piquero Soliva, MPS II.