Agripinoy is not a program but an overall framework for agricultural development. With the theme “Bridging the Gap, Touching the Heart”, the Agripinoy Framework recognizes the importance of fostering partnerships and collaborative undertakings from organizations and institutions outside of government to complement the department’s efforts to boost productivity through sustainable development.
The Agripinoy Framework is envisioned to end the rice importation and attain food security within three years thru its Key Result Areas such as a) Promotion and Development, b) Pinoy Seedbank, c) Gulayan sa Paaralan, d) Pinoy Encounter and e) Consumer Awareness.
In his message during the dialogue with local executives in the Bicol Region last September 23, 2010, Sec. Alcala says this could be attained by increasing irrigated lands from 1.3 million to 2 million and enhances the use of certified seeds from 20 percent to 45 percent. He also believes in achieving great things thru simple and little ways like promoting the use of unpolished rice due to its high recovery rate and adapting upland rice farming.
Based on the implementing guidelines issued by the Secretary on September 28, 2010, the Department will do parallel promotions of sustainable agriculture, natural resource management and local development for food security under the Agripinoy Framework for Agricultural Development, while attaining the regular target goals of the banner programs. Further, Agripinoy has no separate fund, thus realignments may be considered.
The secretary believes that strengthening the extensions’ implementing arm is the key to the success of Agripinoy. He made sure that the trainers in the field level will be empowered with the right concepts of Agripinoy and technical knowhow of the technologies related to organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
Agripinoy took off thru the conduct of the National Training of Trainers attended by 45 representatives from Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), DA Regional Field Units, senate staff and Secretary Alcala himself.
As an offshoot, the Department of Agriculture, Regional Field unit No. 5 in collaboration with Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Plant Industry, PhilRice and Earthkeepers, has conducted the Regional Training of Trainers on Agripinoy last September 7-9, 2010 at RIARS Training Center San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur. The training was attended by 45 Trainers/Implementers/Officials from NGOs, DA-RFU 5, ATI, PAS, and DepEd.
An action plan by province was presented after the three days training. Camarines Sur will be the pilot province wherein the two batches of Provincial Training of Trainers were already conducted on October 12-14, 2010 for District 1 and 2 and November 10-12, 2010 for District 3, 4 and 5.
The cycle will only be completed when the participants in the provincial level has conducted a re-echo training in the municipal level wherein it will be participated by the end users; the farmers and the Teachers-in-charge of the Gulayan sa Paaralan.
