The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it has partnered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to modernize the country's agriculture training programs with the aim of improving farmers' productivity and income.
Following a meeting between key officials, both agencies agreed to launch a series of updated training programs covering rice machinery operations, agri-entrepreneurship and refrigeration systems.
The program will also include training on fish post-harvesting and canning operations, with TESDA collaborating with the DA's Fisheries Development Council to develop the module.
The DA said TESDA will introduce new courses on cooperative management, slaughterhouse and abattoir operations and seaweed processing, all of which will be integrated into next year's national curriculum.
The programs will be offered in multiple modalities (institution-, enterprise- and community-based and online learning) to ensure accessibility for students in remote and rural areas.
“We are aligning our plans with the President's vision for modern, technology-driven agriculture. With new machinery, greenhouses and improved seeds arriving, our farmers and fishermen should be fully equipped to handle these innovations,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. was quoted as saying in a statement.
The DA said it will also develop parameters to measure the effectiveness and benefits of the updated training programs. , Von Andrei E. Villamiel
