Women, Youth, IPs in Pampanga Join AgriATM Training on Goat Raising and Organic Farming

On its first “Lakbay” in Pampanga, the Agri Aral Tekno Mobil (AgriATM) program of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) went to Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Magalang, Pampanga to train forty-five identified participants on the production and business in goat and organic farming on May 23, 2022. Rural women, indigenous peoples (IPs), and youth gathered around the AgriATM Van parked under the acacia tree just outside the Bren Z. Guiao Multipurpose Center. The participants listened to the technical experts and accessed the AgriATM website using the laptops and tablets available provided by the program. Dr. Anita G. David, PSAU’s Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the President, welcomed the guests and participants. In her message, she reminded the participants to embrace every program presented to them by PSAU and their partner agencies like CLSU to learn new knowledge, improve their way of life, and have some source of livelihood. Mr. Johnah Jefferson Mercado, extension modalities expert and AgriATM project staff, shared his expertise in organic farming specifically the production of organic onion, lettuce, tomato, eggplant, and organic inputs among others. On the other hand, Mr. Neal Del Rosario, CLSU Small Ruminant Center (SRC) Head and the program’s resident expert on goat production, shared his knowledge on the different systems of small ruminant management, breeds, feeding, and milk production. Besides the typically printed modules and reading materials available, AgriATM also used non-traditional media to teach the participants in the training. Lessons are integrated with techno-videos that helped them understand more the topics. Quizzes and topic-related games are also included to test their knowledge and to have a more interactive and fun atmosphere while studying. “Hindi naman po kami nahirapan o nalito [mag-access] online,” said one of the participants when asked about the interface and the general experience of the electronic modules used. He added, “okay [din] po ang [videos], madami po kaming natutunan na hindi [pa] alam.” Meanwhile, Dr. Geraldine Sanchez, PSAU Director for Extension thanked the participants for their eagerness to learn and try the modules and access them on the website. Participants were awarded with certificates of completion after the program. AgriATM is a CLSU extension project funded by the Commission on Higher Education. It aims to develop and deliver timely extension modular trainings and expert assistance in agriculture and fisheries for livelihood enterprise in an e-learning platform for use in a blended learning environment for farmers, fishers, women, youth, LGU-based extension workers, and other interested clients in situ, in Central Luzon.