Higit sa 50,000 magsasaka at kanilang kapamilya sa buong bansa ang nakapagtapos sa agriculture-related training programs ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) Rice Extension Services Program (RESP).
Pagbabahagi ni TESDA Director Gen. Danilo Cruz kabuuang 53,221 ang naging benipesaryo ng kanilang mga program at inisyatibo sa ilalim ng RESP.
Noong 2020 at 2021, nakapagsanay ang TESDA ng 64,421 rice farmers sa buong bansa.
Sa Region 8 ang may pinakamaraming nakapagtapos sa bilang na 6,056, kasunod ang 5,263 sa Region 3 at 4,797 sa Region 6.
Ayon kay Criz ang pagsasanay ay kaugnay sa pagpapatupad ng RA 11203 o ang Rice Liberalization Act.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal ang sektor ng agrikultura ay kabilang sa mga prayoridad ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., kayat nangunguna din sa kanilang ahensya ang agriculture courses sa paniniwalang kapag napaghusay ang mga magsasaka ay maabot ang ‘food security and independence.’
“We’ve always prioritized the agriculture sector in our scholarship programs. We’ll continue to work with other government and private entities for strengthening the sector and for the provision of skills training and livelihood opportunities for our rice farmers,” ani Cruz.
Ibinahagi naman ni TESDA spokesperson, Deputy Director General Aniceto D. Bertiz III, ang ilan sa mga kurso sa ilalim ng RSEP at ito aniya ang Farm Field School on Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seed Certification and Farm Mechanization, Rice Machinery Operations, Drying and Milling Plant Servicing NC III, Agro-entrepreneurship NC II, Pest and Nutrients Management, at Digital Agriculture Course in the Farm Field School (FFS).
“I encourage rice farmers and their dependents, as well as all Filipinos engaged in the agriculture sector, to avail of our agriculture-related training courses, especially on modern rice farming,” dagdag pa ni Bertiz.