MANILA – The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic calls for alternative way of living and self-sufficiency especially on food supply. The lockdown has taught people to make use of their time to be productive and gardening has become an instant fad not only in areas with ample available land to till but also in urban areas using urban and container gardening techniques.
But farming and gardening need technology to be successful and such technology could not be used without education and training. So this gap is being addressed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through its scholarship program on integrated organic farming, which it hopes to cascade through the help of independent farm schools and family farms in the country.
According to TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña that the scholarship is open for all who are interested to learn organic farming. “Kasali ito sa aming OPLAN TESDA Abot Lahat Program upang masusuportahan ang Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program ng gobyerno,” (This is part of our OPLAN TESDA Abot Lahat Program as support to the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program of the government), he said.
TESDA’s invitation poster reads “As the need for food security arises amid the Covid-19 pandemic, TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs), community farms, and farm schools will be utilized as organic farming training grounds in the country. Family farms and other farm schools will be registered with at least four integrated farm subsystem programs, while TTIs will serve as the demonstration farm systems of Integrated Organic Farm System Program.
Sec. Lapiña urges individuals and those running farming community schools and family farms to avail themselves of this opportunity. They may go the nearest TESDA office or through their e-TESDA website.
