Tarlaque'o Farmers, Fisherfolks, Youth, Women engage in Lakbay AgriATM; Receive Free Quality Agri-fishery Education

The Agri Aral Tekno Mobil (AgriATM) program continued its “Lakbay AgriATM: Agri, Set, Go! - Roadshow” extension series in Tarlac and capacitated 88 farmers, fisherfolks, women, youth, and local extension workers in the municipalities of Victoria, La Paz, and Anao from June 14-16, 2022. Aboard the AgriATM Van, the program team reached out by giving target participants timely quality education on agri-fisheries technologies and their entrepreneurial prospects specifically in goat raising, mushroom production, tilapia raising, and organic farming. The participants listened to the topics on organic farming production and goat production presented by Mr. Johnah Jefferson Mercado, Extension Expert from the University Extension Center (UEC), and Mr. Neal Del Rosario, Goat Raising Expert from CLSU Small Ruminant Center (SRC), respectively. Mr. Mercado emphasized the importance of organic farming in relation to the issue of global warming in the Philippine setting, among the other lessons presented in the organic farming module. Meanwhile, Mr. Del Rosario discussed the basics of goat raising particularly its management systems, forage production, and processed feeds for small ruminants like the Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB). On the other hand, Mr. Bismark Francisco, mushroom expert from CLSU – Center for Tropical Mushroom and Development (CTMRD) shared his knowledge on producing mushroom spawns and marketing strategies for their mushroom harvests to possible buyers. For tilapia raising, Dr. Emmanuel Vera Cruz, a professor from the College of Fisheries, discussed the management practices for tilapia production, and tilapia byproducts such as the Tilapia Ice Cream and “TilaDing” or dried tilapia by CLSU. For this leg, the program partnered with the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), and CLSU Information Technology (IT) and Communication and Development Studies Departments for their expert assistance.   In Barangay Bantog, Victoria Despite their busy schedule on the farm and at home, not to mention the scorching heat of the sun, participants from Barangay Bantog were very eager to learn new techniques and knowledge brought by AgriATM.   “Nadagdagan pa po ang aking kaalaman [at] para sa akin, kahit mainit, basta nakikinig lang po [ako], may nakukuha po kami. Tulad ng sili, ginagamit pala ‘yon pantaboy sa peste,” says Rhea Valdez, one of the women participants. With the help of the CLSU IT Department, the AgriATM team taught the participants to interact with the Learning Management System (LMS) so that they can get access to the electronic modules and other educational materials uploaded there. This experience hopes to build confidence of the participants in using electronic media as a tool in acquiring information in agriculture and related topics. “Ang maka-access lamang po kayo sa aming LMS ay malaking tulong na upang madagdagan ang inyong kaalaman sa agrikultura at [para] makasabay rin sa mabilis na pag-usad ng teknolohiya,” says Dr. Cynthia C. Divina, AgriATM Program Leader.   In Barangay San Roque, La Paz Farmers and cooperative members in La Paz underwent training during the “Lakbay-AgriATM” held last June 15, 2022, at Sitio Control, Brgy. San Roque, La Paz. Since the pandemic struck the country, agencies limit themselves in facilitating training in their area because of the COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, so Mr. Noel C. Regis, Municipal Agriculture Officer of La Paz expressed his gratitude to the AgriATM team because of its efforts to facilitate training even amid the pandemic. Moreover, the muddy and remote setting in Sitio Control did not hinder the AgriATM team in delivering extension training and expert assistance in agriculture. “Gusto ko pang madagdagan ang kaalaman ko sa paghahalaman at pag-aalaga ng mga hayop at pag-iisda, kaya po nag-enroll ako uli,” said Arceli Inocencio, one of the participants. She also added that she always participates whenever the LGU La Paz conducts training and seminars related to agriculture.  “Maraming-maraming salamat po sa AgriATM dahil po sa pagbibigay ng kaalaman na makakatulong para sa aming paghahalaman at para sa aming pang-kabuhayan. Salamat, Team CLSU!”, said Alex Inocencio, husband of Arceli, as he expressed his gratitude.   In Anao For the last leg of the “Lakbay AgriATM: Agri, Set, Go! Roadshow” in Tarlac, selected rural farmers, fisherfolks, and women joined the training last June 16, 2022, at the Rang-Ay iti Mannalon New Technology Agriculture Complex in Anao. The training’s setup was like that of a classroom setting, as the participants used the copyrighted electronic and printed modules by AgriATM while the experts were discussing their topics, making it more participatory compare to a typical extension training. *** Participants will not only be capacitated via training but potentially can be chosen as beneficiaries of the startup kits on their chosen technologies through the “Asenso AgriATM” which aims to enhance the livelihood/ business enterprises, ease food insecurity in their locales, and overall improve their lives. AgriATM is a Commission on Higher Education funded program implemented by Central Luzon State University. It aims to deliver timely extension modular trainings and expert assistance in agriculture and fisheries for entrepreneurial enterprise in an e-learning platform for use in the blended learning environment in Central Luzon.   For more information, please visit www.agriatm.com/news.