Another year had passed that brought together the e-Extension coordinators for the e-Extension CoMotion: 3rd Program Assessment and Planning Workshop last March 15-19, 2010 at Oasis Hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga .

Year 2009 was a momentous year for e-Extension with the launching of Text Support Center in February and eventually the Farmers' Contact Center (FCC) in November. With both services formally launched under the e-Farming component of the e-Extension program comes the challenge of making it reach to the ultimate clients, the farmers.

SACY is what we called him when he was still with the Department of Agriculture. It stands for Secretary Arthur C. Yap, a man we have known that has high standards since we started working with him. I remember he had some frustrations with ATI as the Institute could hardly cope up with his expectations as the training and extension arm of the Department.

We look back to the year that was....

An e-empowered extension workers and farmers via its Agriculture and Fishery courses offered online.

Increased confidence in what we do with the implementation of the TextSupport and Farmers Contact Center (FCC)

As we are conducting our regional consultations for the establishment of the Farmers Contact Center, we heard from our partners in the field their various ideas, perspectives, suggestions and comments on opening a new mode of communication with our clients. Some accepted the idea, some though may have doubts if this is really possible, if we can do it, if it would be acceptable to everybody. Though the idea of this initiative is evolving, we are open to whatever will come our way and we will try to fit it if we can to whatever we do.

Establishing the e-extension program of the Department of Agriculture is a monumental task. The Agricultural Training Institute is mandated to lead the e-extension program in the country by virtue of Department Order no.03 s 2007. This is a noble function but surely an additional task. Ms.

Even if I’m used to hearing this lines… but, I’m a bit unhappy (I’d rather use this word – to sound positive still… LOL) when I heard it straight from a colleague. That! Tadannn!!! "I’m still mystified about e-extension"… (with emphasis mode) sigh!

Oh why oh why? Where were you when we discussed this thing very long time ago… I know they’re just around… during the demystifying stage… however, they’re not that interested maybe or perhaps "cannot recall" the whole process.