San Mateo, Isabela—The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Regional Training Center 02 recently conducted the first leg of the Provincial Consultation-Workshops on the Development of the National Extension Agenda and Programs (NEAP) for the Fiscal Year 2022-2028 in barangay Malasin here.
The training was conducted alongside the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Isabela.
ATI Region 2 Center Director Imelda M. Guillermo said: “We are formulating a new national extension agenda and programs for the next seven years. We have prepared this manual not for us but for our stakeholders across the country especially the farmers and the fishers, whom we want them to achieve productivity towards Masaganang Ani, Mataas na kita.”
The inputs of the stakeholders will be relevant in the formulation of National Extension Agenda and Programs (NEAP) for 2022-2028, she said.
While the current National Extension Agenda and Programs for 2017-2022 has served as a major reference for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of extension interventions by the ATI and other Agri-fishery extension partners, there is a necessity for a clear set of directions in pursuit of the success of any development, Guillermo emphasized.
The consultation will serve as a guiding platform to ensure that the current context and situation of the aquaculture and fishery extension systems will be identified, and efforts will be aligned with the identified issues and concerns that need to be addressed.
It will also aid in the AFE strategic planning process, particularly taking off from the extension agenda and programs articulated in the NEAP, Guillermo said in her speech.
Meanwhile, Mayflor Macmac, Project Officer for Cagayan Valley Region, said NEAP embraces topics and concerns on extension that provides a basis for defining priorities of the government for public investments and address the gaps by implementing appropriate Agri-Fishery Extension (AFE) interventions.
Dr. Claris M. Alaska, Chief Information Officer of ATI RTC 2 and facilitator, said least 20 representatives from Isabela State University, Local Government Units of Mallig, Cabatuan, Luna and San Isidro, DA-CVRC, PhilRice, Office of the Provincial Veterinary of Isabela, OPA Isabela and private sector composed of “magsasaka siyentista,” learning sites and seed growers participated on day 1.
The consultation workshop aims to collect relevant information that will be useful in the development of NEAP, Alaska said.
The participants voiced their concerns during the Provincial Consultation-Workshop on the Development of the NEAP 2022-2028.
On June 3, actors on the value chain from Isabela province took part in the Consultation Workshop for the development of the National Extension Agenda and Programs for FY 2022-2028.
The inputs from the sectors of production postharvest, processing, marketing, distribution, and consumption covering the different commodities were essential in crafting the NEAP.
“In coming up with the said extension agenda and programs, we are conducting series of consultation workshop with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Veterinarian in different provinces, with the participation of the AFE intervention implementers namely, the state universities and colleges like the Isabela State University,
Quirino State University, Nueva Vizcaya State University and Cagayan State University, the DA agencies and bureaus and other national government agencies, local government units and private sectors,” Alaska said.
The participation and contribution of these different sectors is highly acknowledged and appreciated specially in collecting relevant information that will be useful in the development of the NEAP, Guillermo disclosed.
The province of Isabela conducted the two-day workshop on June 2 and 3, for Nueva Vizcaya on June 8-9, Quirino on June 19-17 and Cagayan is tentatively scheduled on June 14-15.
“We are hopeful that the outputs would be very useful not only for the different provinces and the region but for the whole country,” added Guillermo.
ATI pushes the development of the country’s agriculture and fisheries through improved extension services. It aims to leave a legacy to future generations of farmers, fishers, agricultural extension workers, and other stakeholders through the NEAP and the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Strategic Plan for 2022-2028.
ATI spearheaded the development of both documents through nationwide multi-sectoral consultations with the Department of Agriculture (DA), its bureaus, attached agencies, and regional field offices, other national government agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges, rural-based organizations, and private extension service providers, among others.