Rollout on Extension Delivery System Starts Off with Training of Trainers

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Angelica Marie T. Umali

ATI-ISD chief Antonieta Arceo (right) gives her feedback during the workshop on presentation skills.

QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila—To successfully bridge the gap between agricultural information and the farmers, there is a need for agricultural extension workers (AEWs) to continually build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will equip them in performing their duties more effectively.

Heeding this call, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), through the Career Development and Management Division, steered a Training of Trainers (ToT) on Extension Delivery System (EDS) for a new breed of AEWs. The first of two batches of participants was composed of 22 technical personnel from the regional centers of the Institute, as well as from its central office.

The training included various extension approaches, strategies, methods, interventions, modalities, and innovations discussed by experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Dr. Andrew Gasmen and Dr. Rowena Baconguis. Likewise, communication in extension was highlighted by the Institute’s Information Services Division (ISD) chief Antonieta Arceo.

Moreover, a micro-teaching activity served as the final output, wherein each participant was given a topic from the EDS module to showcase the acquired extension and presentation skills from the training. Some of the topics include the overview of agricultural extension (AE); AE System Components and Philippine AE; AE in the Philippines; clients of extension; characteristics of an AEW; approaches, strategies, methods, modalities, interventions and innovations of AE; communication competence; ethics in AE; handling participant behavior; and facilitation skills.

“Before, I couldn’t understand the whole meaning of agricultural extension. But now, I’ve learned to appreciate it. I realized that I really want to be an extension worker,” Assel Mandanguit of ATI Regional Training Center XI said as she expressed her gratitude for having attended the EDS training.

This kickoff was held on June 25-29, 2018 at the Hive Hotel in this city, while the second leg of the ToT will be on August 6-10, 2018 in Pasay City.

In this article: 
Extension Delivery System; Training of Trainers

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Extension services continue to evolve. With the challenges that extension workers and farmers face, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) continues to explore various strategies to improve its efforts as the extension and training arm of the Department of Agriculture. In over 30 years, the ATI has celebrated various successes and learned from the lessons during hard times. Nonetheless, we are proud to be standing the test of time through the support of our partners and the clientele themselves. This is the ATI Today, more committed to bring you extension services beyond boundaries.