The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has encouraged private farm owners to collaborate with the establishment of farm schools in every municipality all over the country.
TESDA Deputy Director General for Special Concerns Felizardo Colambo said the arrangement would introduce farmers to emerging technologies and upgrade the skills of household members in agricultural production and entrepreneurship.
Farmers, he said, would learn best practices and help establish their community as a social enterprise. The farm schools will also engage everyone in harnessing the potentials of local natural resources that eventually leads to attaining food security.
Speaking at the World Cafè of Opportunities (WCO) in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Colambo also urged attendees in the skills fair to consider pursuing self-employment by enrolling in any of the agriculture-related and entrepreneurial courses conducted by TESDA.
Through education and training, farmers will learn scientific methods in organic farming, integrate modern technology and enhance their skills in marketing their products.
WCO is a Job Linking & Networking Services (JoLINS) Platform, a segment of TESDA’s 30th anniversary celebration.
Dasmariñas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga and representatives of Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, industry leaders and tecvoc institutions attended the event.
TESDA-accredited schools and private technical and vocational institutions regularly conduct training on agricultural crop production, aquaculture, horticulture, organic agriculture production, rice machinery operations and animal production.
The cost of training is covered by TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). All graduates earn a National Certificate level II.
The government allocates P1 billion every year from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) as provided by RA 11203 for farmers training being conducted by TESDA to ensure food security and make the agricultural sector viable, efficient and globally competitive.
As TESDA collaborates with the Department of Education in the embedment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in senior high school, focus must be made in skilling of students in the emerging technologies and the agri-fishery sector by enhancing specific learning areas to complement rural farm schools in every province.
A month after his appointment to TESDA, Colambo already benchmarked three successful and large farm schools namely, the Villacozoilo Compact Organic Farm in Jaro Leyte; Julimon’s Nature Farm in Initao, Misamis Oriental; and Kaluppâ Foundation in Santa Cruz, Marinduque.
The schools are doing great jobs in helping farmers and in upskilling those who intend to work in local industries and those who prefer overseas employment.
