Interacting with the media to address current issues and concerns in the agriculture sector, the Agricultural Training Institute-10 holds the chATIme: MediaCon during its 38th Founding Anniversary celebration, February 6 in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental. (Photo: SAYU/PIA-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Responding to growing concerns over food security, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-10 is championing sustainable farming practices to enhance food accessibility, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas.
During its 38th Founding Anniversary, Feb. 6, Senior Agriculturist Javier Jandalan highlighted the urgency of supporting highly populated urban areas through the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), saying, “Naa ta’y program karon sa NUPAP, National Urban And Peri-Urban Agriculture Program, sa mga syudad kay mao man gyud ni ang first nga ma-threaten kung ing-ani nga situation, sila man gyud ang murag ang less ang access sa food.”
(We have a program under NUPAP, the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program, focused on cities because they are the first to be threatened in situations like this, as they have less access to food.)
Jandalan also emphasized the importance of continued training programs and sustainable farming practices, particularly in organic agriculture, to reduce reliance on chemical-based farming.
“Kung gusto ta og sustainability sa agriculture ug kining sustainability sa farming, muapekto man siya sa yuta kay ang farming, yuta gyud na ang pinakaimportante gyud tan-awon. Kung sige ka og chemicals, ma-deplete ang nutrients sa yuta.”
(If we want agricultural and farming sustainability, we must consider its impact on the soil because farming relies heavily on soil health. Excessive chemical use depletes the soil’s nutrients.)
Meanwhile, ATI-10 Center Director Maria Lydia Echavez highlighted the role of community-based learning sites in food distribution. She pointed out how learning sites are acting as “big brothers” in their communities by helping small farmers market their produce.
“Some of our learning sites are already submitting the products of their neighboring farmers and bringing this to the community, to the center, to the center of the Poblacion,” Echavez said.
She also underscored the significance of linking local farmers with the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa initiative.
“That’s one of the interventions that ATI can help. Also introducing our learning sites to the Kadiwa because ang Department of Agriculture isa sa mga interventions niya kaning sa Kadiwa.”
(That’s one of the interventions ATI can provide. We are also introducing our learning sites to the Kadiwa program, which is one of the interventions of the Department of Agriculture.)
Highlighting ATI’s aid to organic farmers even before the declaration of a food security emergency in the country, particularly on organic technology and best practices, Nick Jay Arr Engallado, a recipient of ATI-10 trainings, said ATI never ceased in giving upscaled approaches in organic farming, especially in exploring areas of innovation to sustain produce of commodities at least for family consumption.
“Dako nga factor and pag-diversify sa farm and pag-integrate og livestock, poultry, ug aquaculture kay mas directly available ang pagkaon. Ang excess mabaligya para makadugang income ug makapalit sa dili ma-cultivate o ma-raise sa farm,” he said, citing how farmers could overcome the current food security crisis.
(A big factor is diversifying the farm and integrating livestock, poultry, and aquaculture because food becomes more directly available. The excess can be sold to generate additional income and buy what cannot be cultivated or raised on the farm.)
With food security as a pressing issue, Echavez stressed that ATI-10 remains committed to implementing agricultural programs that promote sustainability, resilience, and accessibility in local food systems. (RTP/PIA-10)
