QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila—Recognizing the important role of family farming, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) spearheaded the first National Farm Family Congress.

With the theme “The Role of Family Farming in Meeting the Food Security Challenge”, the congress served as a way to further promote family farming as farmers and their families shared their stories on their journey to becoming farmer leaders and agricultural entrepreneurs.

ATI Officer-in-Charge Director Luz Taposok graced the event and underscored the significant contributions of farm families in ensuring food security in the country. She said, “Without you, we will not have food to eat; the entire nation will be in hunger. So you must be proud because you sustain the lives of all Filipinos nationwide.”

Meanwhile, Partnerships and Accreditation Division chief Renato Dela Cruz assured the farm families present of the Institute’s continuing support to their endeavors through programs that will ensure the improvement of their technologies and, eventually, their productivity. He added that the best practices shared during the congress will be the basis for policy-making in the national level in support to relevant activities that will contribute to food security.

The sharing of best practices of successful farm families highlighted the activity. Among the presenters were the Atanacio family of Laguna, Perlas family of Nueva Ecija, Rocapor family of La Union, and Mahistrado family of Bukidnon. These families encouraged the participants to continually innovate farming technologies and venture into agri-preneurship.

Also part of the congress was the launching of the book entitled “Gunita”. The book showcases a photographic narrative on the history of the three rural-based organizations supported by the ATI which are the 4-H Club, Pambansang Mannalon, Mag-uuma, Magbabaul, Magsasaka ng Pilipinas or P4MP, and Rural Improvement Club.

The first ever national farm family congress was held last June 19-21, 2018 at the Great Eastern Hotel in this city.