Filipinos in Taiwan train on organic farming
FILIPINO trainees get immersive, hands on training on organic farmingat the AgriGaia farm in Southern Taiwan. PHOTO FROM MECO
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Saturday (Januay 28) rolled out the first-ever training program in organic farming for overseas Filipino workers, immigrants and students in Taiwan.
MECO chairman Silvestre H. Bello III said the free training is in line with the thrust of the Marcos administration to boost local agricultural production in the Philippiines.
“We have introduced a program to equip our OFWs, as well as our Filipino immigrants and students in Taiwan, with skills in modern organic farming so that they may use them when they return to the Philippines,” Bello said in a statement.
“In this manner, perhaps slowly, we hope to contribute to increasing our domestic food production and improve the lives of our OFWs, immigrants and students once they are back in the country,” he added.
Stressing the inclusion of OFWs in the program, Bello said, “The learnings they will obtain will provide them the opportunity for alternative livelihood that has the potential for agri-business especially for those who are going home for good.”
The first batch of trainees, which include 15 OFWs and nine Filipino immigrants and students, underwent a two-day training in a farm in Kaohsiung City.
The training provided immersive and hands-on experience in agri-technologies, agri-education and agri-entrepreneurship.
The training program is a joint undertaking of the MECO Kaohsiung Extension Office and the Migrant Workers Office in partnership with Kaohsiung-based AgriGaia Social Enterprise International Ltd.
Director Ma. Karina P. Trayvilla, of MECO Kaohsiung, said the training was the result of an agreement signed by Bello and AgriGaia in September last year to help boost Philippine food production.
“The agreement provides that the skills and knowledge acquired by the trainees will shared with their local communities on their return,” Trayvilla said.
According to MWO Director David Des T. Dicang, the OFWs who participated are mostly from the manufacturing sector.
“Our participating OFWs have shown keen interest in learning modern organic farming. This is a positive indication of the program’s success,” he said.
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