DILIMAN, Quezon City—Metro Manila residents are getting more inspiration to make agriculture as a business venture with the help of farming experts from different parts of the country.

In the third leg of the AgriTalk seminar series, residents from different urban areas became more aware of the benefits of agriculture, particularly, square-foot gardening, mushroom production, organic concoctions, goat production, and exotic fruit trees.

“The topics discussed were very informative, interesting, and helpful. The technologies presented can also be a source of income and, when applied, will help eliminate hunger,” Linda Gokioco from Caloocan City said.

Gokioco is among the estimated 540 agriculture enthusiasts who flocked the event, which was spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

The experts who served as resource persons included ATI Learning Site owners Honorio Cervantes of Cervantes Farm in Cagayan de Oro and Emma Tolentino of Eco Natural Integrated Farm in Tarlac.

Central Luzon Integrated Agricultural Research Center for Upland Development chief, Emily Soriano, and Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III science research specialist, Robinel Ocampo, also talked during the event, together with Agriculture Magazine editor Zac Sarian.

Budding organic farming entrepreneur, Jead Grace Saronicman, from Quezon remarked, “It was my first time to attend this seminar and I learned a lot. It increased my interest in agri-preneurship and I will definitely be joining all of your events from now on.”

AgriTalk is a collaborative project of the ATI, Manila Bulleting Publishing Corporation, and Bureau of Agricultural Research. This is in line with the ATI’s thrust to strengthen the competitiveness and capacities of the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector.

The project’s Metro Manila event was held last September 28, 2018 at the ATI Rural Development and Education Center. Meanwhile, the last AgriTalk for the year will be held in Davao City on October 17, 2018.