ATI Director Alfredo Aton reminds banner program coordinators to come up with efforts that will ensure that farmers are capacitated on production, processing, and marketing.
CULION, Palawan—To strengthen the implementation of the initiatives and strategies for the different agricultural sub-sectors, banner program coordinators from the Agricultural Training Institute’s (ATI) network convened to develop plans for 2021.
Around 60 staff from ATI’s central office, regional training centers (RTCs), and the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) were joined by officials and national banner program coordinators from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to come up with projects and activities for 2021. These are for organic agriculture, high value crops, and corn.
“The banner programs are part and parcel of the functions of ATI, with a large chunk of the budget allotted for these [under extension services] every year. I urge you to help out one another to ensure that all the funds are utilized appropriately,” ATI Director Alfredo Aton told the program coordinators in his opening speech.
Aton also asked the coordinators to keep in mind DA Secretary William Dar’s “Eight Paradigms to Level Up Philippine Agriculture” in coming up with proposed initiatives and budget for 2021. He stressed that extension programs and services should capacitate farmers in terms of production, processing, and marketing.
“I want everyone to be inclined towards our purpose, which is to teach farmers. At the end of the day, this is how we will be measured. The point is to uplift the living standards of the farmers,” Aton said.
DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña and National Corn Program Coordinator Lorenzo Caranguian were present during the presentation of 2017-2019 physical and financial accomplishments from the RTCs and ITCPH for each banner program. They also spoke to the coordinators on the future directions for high value crops and corn.
Laviña encouraged the coordinators from ATI to focus on quality instead of quantity in implementing training programs for extension workers and farmers. In line with the goal to improve the farmers’ productivity and income, she underscored the need to teach farmers on production techniques while also guiding them on how to become profitable.
“We need to make sure that we train farmers to have the capacity to teach other farmers. We should achieve the multiplier effect,” she said.
During the planning workshop, banner program coordinators and representatives from the different divisions of the ATI central office were also present to provide inputs for the proposals. The proposed initiatives are in line with the strategic directions of the Institute, which include enhancing access to knowledge products and services; strengthening the sector’s competitiveness and capacities; expanding partnerships; and strengthening climate change resilience among stakeholders.
The said performance review and planning workshop was held on November 25-29, 2019 in this town. A similar activity was also held the following week for ATI rice program coordinators.