eFARM Academy conducts MOA Signing and Capacity Building at Dingalan, Aurora

As eFARM Academy (Phase I) focuses on capacitizing local government units (LGUs) within Central Luzon on the eight featured agri-fishery technologies of CLSU, part of its criteria for the selection is the LGU’s potential for agritourism. Dingalan is known for its natural resources due to the majority of its land being forested and situated along the coast. Further, people’s major source of livelihood is agriculture, despite having only 9% of their total area cultivated for it.

On August 8, 2022, the project team forged a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the LGU through its Municipal Mayor, Hon. Shierwin H. Taay. With this, he shared his aim to help the community, especially the “kababaihans”, learn about other income generating opportunities such as mushroom production. “Gusto nang mga tao yung araw araw mayroon silang kinikita. Kung yung mga nanay, araw araw maghaharvest, matutuwa yun. Ayaw nilang naghihintay nang mahabang panahon bago kumita.” Also present at this event were Municipal Agriculturist, Ms. Mina S. Dicen, and Municipal Tourism Officer, Ms. Mary Divina Francisco.

On the other hand, Asst. Prof. Yhen Estigoy stated that to ensure the effective and sustainable adoption of the cascaded technologies, the capacity building will not end with the lectures but that the beneficiaries will be regularly monitored by the project team.

Simultaneous with the signing, the 2-day capacity building on Indoor Vertical Farming System (IVFS) by Engr. Christopher S. Pascual, Goat Production by Mr. Neal A. Del Rosario, and Mushroom Production by Dr. Rich Milton R. Dulay were conducted at Zen Tierras Farm, Brgy. Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora. A total of 28 selected participants were called to attend the event.

Before the training ended, a 20-tower IVFS set-up was successfully awarded to the beneficiaries, Ms. Zenaida J. Rimorin and Mr. Albert Rimorin. Meanwhile, the project team will still return to award the start-up kits for goat production and mushroom production to the other beneficiaries.

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