A delegate from Malaysia writes about expectations from the training during the opening program last April 16. (photo by Christian Josef Austria)
MANILA, Metro Manila—To address the pressing issue on gender gap in the agriculture sector among Southeast Asian nations, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) spearheaded a training course on improving and mainstreaming gender.
This two-week training, led by the ATI Career Development and Management Division, aims to guide practitioners and technical staff in integrating gender-responsive actions in the design and implementation of their agricultural programs and projects.
Around 19 delegates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines attended the training. The activity includes discussions on Gender and Development (GAD) as well as country reporting on gender status and experiences from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries. Field visits to some of the Institute’s partner farms in Batangas are slated on April 21 and 23.
ATI Regional Training Center Directors Arlene Flores, Ruth Miclat-Sonaco, and Vilma Patindol are among the resource persons for the activity. Joining them are Josephine Costales of Costales Nature Farms, Gloria Pontejos-Morris of MoCa Family Farm Rlearning Center, and Liezl Carolino of Kambingan ni Eba to discuss the role of women in crop development and value-adding agricultural produce.
At the end of the training, the participants are expected to individually develop and present action plans integrating GAD concerns in their respective programs.
The training started on April 15 and will end on April 27 at the Bayview Park Hotel.
This initiative is the third phase of the project “Strengthening Capability Building in Agriculture Sector in ASEAN Countries” funded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of Japan.