CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — To showcase the youth’s participation in the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector, the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center (DA-ATI)-10 launched the second edition of the Batang Agricultural Extensionist (BAE) book during the agency’s 38th Founding Anniversary celebration, February 6 in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental.
Dubbed “BAE-2: More Collection of Inspiring Young Farmers’ Stories in Region 10,” the book is a collection of success stories from young farmers and ‘agri-preneurs’ in Northern Mindanao with whom the agency has partnered to advance agricultural innovations and knowledge-sharing in the region.
ATI-10 Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez said the book cements the agency’s efforts to empower local young farmers and foster sustained participation in the agri-fishery sector.
“This publication is a testament to our commitment to sharing knowledge, experiences, best practices, and inspirations that will arm our youth with confidence in an industry rarely appreciated by the new generation,” Echavez said.
As the seventh installment of ATI-10’s annual publication, ‘BAE-2’ comprises 17 stories and additional content, aimed at inspiring readers to actively participate in agriculture.
“This success storybook, which is an acknowledgment of [the young farmers’] achievements, also fosters competence and nurtures self-reliance, enabling our young farmers to become dynamic contributors to our communities,” Media Production Specialist and BAE-2 Editor-in-Chief Vic Thor Palarca said.
ATI-10 also revealed two additional publications slated for future release, namely: ‘Gastronomica 2: A Second Helping’ and ‘Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) Compendium of Best Practices’, both aimed at celebrating and documenting agricultural innovations and best agricultural practices in the region.
Consistent with the agency’s push for youth engagement, the event also served as an opportunity for young farmer Mars Muñoz to share his testimony and express his gratitude to the agency for being one of the scholars of the third batch of ATI’s Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan 2023-2024.
“Kaning akong farm karon is nagbunga ni siya tungod sa programa sa ATI. Nag-apply ko sa Taiwan [scholarship] year of 2023, nakaluy-an sa Ginoo nga nadawat sad ta, so murag lami na sa paminaw nga naghinay-hinay na gyud og abot ang atong pangandoy,” Muñoz said.
(This farm of mine is thriving now because of the ATI program. I applied for the Taiwan [scholarship] in 2023, and by God’s grace, I was accepted. It feels great to see my dreams slowly coming true.)
He added that while everyone shares the same dream of success, each person is given a different path by God. The young farmer also emphasized the importance of perseverance, stating that hard work is essential in life.
In line with the celebration of the agency’s 38th year in service, Echavez emphasized that ATI-10 continues to reaffirm its support for local agricultural extension workers, the youth, and farmers and agriculture enthusiasts through the provision of timely interventions, ultimately benefiting stakeholders across the agri-fishery value chain. (GDA/PIA-10)
