ATI prods media to help with farmers training

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite, Mar. 31 (PIA) – The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) IV-A prodded the media to help them with farmers training during its recently conducted media conference held at the ATI Regional Training Center IV-A here. 

The conference attended by media personnel from Cavite, Laguna and as far as Quezon provinces, served as venue for the presentation and promotion of ATI's various programs and services.

Dubbed “CONNECT Engaging ATI RTC IV-A Programs and Services through Media Linkages,” the conference has opened a connection with the media as it even more emphasized its important role in cascading and disseminating vital information to the public such as the farmers sector.

The conference was in line with ATI’s mandate to train Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and their beneficiaries being the Department of Agriculture’s extension and training arm aimed to improve the current state of the country’s agriculture. 

Marites Piamonte-Cosico, center director of ATI RTC IV-A welcomed the media representatives as she highlighted their important role in keeping transparency open in government as well as timely reporting of information to the public.  “Napakahalaga ng papel ng media sa pagkakaroon ng transparency at mabilis na paglalahad ng impormasyon sa publiko,” she said. 

Recognizing the change brought about by modern technology, Cosico acknowledged the need to also upgrade their services. “Isa itong dahilan kung bakit ang aming tanggapan ay kailangan ding mag upgrade ng aming serbisyo publiko para mas madali ang pakikipag ugnayan sa aming kliyente.” 

Among the media strategies utilized by the center to connect with farmers include the School-on-Air, a training program aired thru radio stations that has helped a total of 3,000 farmers over a period of three years. 

The School-on-Air program teaches about sustainable pig-raising, corn and organic farming and other related topics. 

The center also used the internet to organize 56 Farmers Information Technology Services or FITS centers in partnership with the local and municipal governments and public colleges and universities "that made our connection and information dissemination much more fast and effective." 

“Sa katunayan, kinilala na ang aming center na pinakamagaling sa larangan ng Knowledge Management and Information Services,” Cosico noted.

In closing, Cosico expressed hope that the media will be ATI’s partner to help intensify their mandate to reach more farmers and other stakeholders to be educated with the right information that will be useful for the improvement of agriculture in the province and the country as well. (Ruel Francisco, PIA-Cavite)

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https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1020331
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