By Prince Macky Marcos
Some 49 young farm leaders from different regions of the country embarked on an 11-month internship program in Taiwan for their hands-on learning of advanced Taiwanese modern agricultural techniques. The internship is part of the Filipino Young Farmer Internship Program in Taiwan (FYFIPT), a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
The interns will acquire proficiency and expertise in sophisticated Taiwanese modern agricultural methods, which they can apply upon their return to the Philippines. FYFIPT aims to turn its participants into empowered agricultural entrepreneurs and farmer leaders, contributing to food security and economic stability within the agriculture sector.
The internship involves hands-on training encompassing diverse subjects on rice cultivation and farm mechanization, dairy and beef cattle production and management, vegetable and crop cultivation, and swine production and management. The practical training sessions are facilitated through collaborative efforts between the ATI Regional Training Centers (ATI-RTCs), certified Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA), and accredited Extension Service Providers (ESP).
Before leaving for Taiwan, the trainees completed a pre-departure orientation course, where they undertook financial literacy, mental health awareness, Mandarin classes, culture, and traditions.
A send-off ceremony took place last August 8, 2023, at the ATI-Central Office, which celebrated the trainees’ successful completion of the various phases of the program. It also recognized the vital contributions of partners in program implementation, including the TECO, MECO, ATI-RTCs, local government units, and, notably, the parents of the young farmers.
With a genuine spirit of encouragement and optimism, ATI Director Remelyn Recoter extended her heartfelt well-wishes to the interns before they embarked on their journey to Taiwan. She emphasized the unique opportunity for the interns’ personal and professional growth. Recoter underscored the significance of this venture, conveying her hopes for a successful and enriching experience for each intern. As they set forth on this new chapter, her message carried the collective support and good luck wishes from the entire community, echoing a sentiment of anticipation and positivity for their endeavors in Taiwan.
MECO Chairman and Resident Representative Silvestre Bello III delivered an encouraging message of support as they set off, expressing his hope for their return and the application of the knowledge they gained during their internship in Taiwan. Also, a message of support from TECO Resident Representative Wallace Minn-Gan Cho commended the young farmers for embarking on this journey, encouraging them to make the most of this invaluable opportunity.
In a video message on behalf of Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban from the Department of Agriculture, Assistant Secretary Drusila Bayate conveyed his endorsement of the trainees’ development into agricultural leaders and entrepreneurs. He extended his good wishes for their educational journey, urging them to return to the Philippines following their 11-month internship equipped with valuable knowledge and competencies. Drusila added that these assets would benefit the agricultural sector and foster more opportunities for stakeholders amidst the ongoing modernization and digitization initiatives.
The trainees embarked on their journey to Taiwan last August 10, 2023, with an expected return date of July 10, 2024. Upon their return, they will undergo a post-training assessment and devise their re-entry plans.