Rene Nanit from Tarlac State University assists the participants from the RICs in writing their project proposals as part of the training on enterprise development. (photo by Larry Illich Souribio)
MINDANAO, Philippines—The role of rural-based organizations in boosting community advancement is continuously recognized in the agriculture and fisheries sector.
With this, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) conducted a series of capacity enhancement training programs for the regional presidents of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) and of the Pambansang Mannalon-Maguuma-Magbabaul-Magsasaka ng Pilipinas (P4MP).
The training for 25 RIC women leaders focused on enterprise development. By enhancing their knowledge and skills on creating farm business ventures, the three-day activity further empowered them in terms of seeing themselves as leaders and entrepreneurs.
Specifically, discussions and workshops on financial literacy, enterprise development innovations, project proposal writing, and the new paradigm in agriculture were conducted during the training course.
Resource persons include Vilma Patindol formerly of ATI–Region VIII, Ma. Fe Mejos of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, Rene Nanit of Tarlac State University, and Engr. Renato Dela Cruz, chief of the ATI-Partnerships and Accreditation Division (PAD).
Aside from learning about enterprise development, the participants were also able to plan for the upcoming 85th RIC National Convention scheduled on November 25-27, 2019.
Meanwhile, the capacity enhancement activity for 21 P4MP regional presidents and selected members zeroed in on vegetable production, community organizing and development, and the Rice Tariffication Law. A re-orientation on ATI’s programs for P4MP and the organization’s national elections for 2019 were also held during the event.
Speakers in this training program were Elias Nayal of ATI Region IX, Raymond Chris Maribojoc of Saint Vincent College Incorporated in Dipolog City, Reynaldo Campomanes from the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office IX, and Josephine Aben of ATI-PAD.
After these capacity enhancement activities, the RIC and P4MP officers are, in turn, expected to raise the level of agricultural productivity in their respective communities by applying the technologies they learned and sharing knowledge to their members.
These training programs for RIC and P4MP were held last October 22-25 in Davao City and September 16-20 in Dipolog City, respectively.