The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are expanding their partnership to modernize agricultural training and help farmers and fisherfolk adapt to new technologies.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez agreed to roll out updated programs on rice machinery, agri-entrepreneurship, and postharvest technologies, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal of improving food security and raising farmers’ incomes.
The partnership includes new courses on cold storage, fish processing, cooperative management, butchery, and seaweed processing, to be added to next year’s national curriculum. Both agencies also plan to build greenhouses and nurseries for high-value crops to reduce dependence on imported seedlings.
TESDA will conduct an impact study on existing agri-training programs, while the DA will set performance benchmarks. The agencies also discussed delays in releasing Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund allocations for farm schools.
TESDA continues to expand access to agri-fisheries training through in-person and online programs, including Organic Agriculture, Animal Production, and Fisheries courses. It also offers new programs such as Sugarcane Production NC II and international internships in Israel focused on advanced farm technologies.
The DA, meanwhile, plans to bring back agricultural extension workers to provide stronger field-level support to farmers.
