ATI pushes for more agri-development via “From Arms to Farms”
KAUSWAGAN, Lanao del Norte, June 28 (PIA) - The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 10 (ATI-RTC 10) continues to forge partnership with the local government units (LGU) of Kauswagan and Munai and Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Member of Parliament Abdullah Goldiano “Bravo” Macapaar to bring agricultural development in the countryside.
The partnership intends to develop Camp Bilal located in Sitio Kura Kura, Barangay Tamparan in Munai into a fully sustainable community where it can provide food for its people.
It will be a partnership that will mark again another success of the “From Arms to Farms” Program where rebel returnees will engage and venture into agriculture and will be carrying farm implements instead of firearms.
ATI-RTC 10 will capacitate the farmers through the conduct of training programs.
Kauswagan Mayor Rommel C. Arnado, a pillar in the implementation of the “From Arms to Farms” Program, requested to train not only the community leaders but for everyone in the community, even the children.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the training will be conducted by a batch of 25 participants prioritizing farmer leaders. The series of training will commence by July 2020.
LGUs Kauswagan and Munai will assist the farmers in land preparation, technical capacitation, and monitoring.
Although Camp Bilal is part of Munai headed by Mayor Racma D. Andamama, Commander Bravo also sought the help of Mayor Arnado, since LGU Kauswagan has the capacity to fully assist the farmers with its complete farming machineries, such as tractors, that would hasten the development process of the farm.
Priority components of the project are upland rice production, vegetable production and livestock.
The commodity-based trainings will focus on Upland Rice Production using Palayamanan System and vegetable production integrated with livestock production and fish culture.
Mayor Arnado suggested that the program be patterned after the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program of the government where beneficiaries will be given full support from housing, livelihood and employment as well as health needs support among others in order to uplift their living condition.
Like the BP2, all trajectories will be focused on the area. With the presence of a lake within the area, the group plans to develop it later into irrigation for lowland rice production and upland vegetable production area.
Camp Bilal will be developed to be an ATI-certified Halal Learning Site (LS) area with Commander Bravo as a Learning Site cooperator. (ATI10)