On its first “Lakbay” in Pampanga, the Agri Aral Tekno Mobil program of Central Luzon State University went to Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Magalang to train forty-five identified participants on the production and business in goat and organic farming on May 23, 2022.

Rural women, indigenous people, and youth gathered around the AgriATM Van parked under the acacia tree just outside the Bren Z. Guiao Multipurpose Center and listened to the technical experts and accessed the AgriATM website using the laptops and tablets available provided by the program.

Dr. Anita G. David, PSAU’s Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the President, welcomed the guests and participants.

In her message, she reminded the participants to embrace every program presented to them by PSAU and their partner agencies such as CLSU, to learn new knowledge, improve their way of life and have some source of livelihood.

Extension modalities expert Johnah Jefferson Mercado shared his expertise in organic farming mainly in production of organic onion, lettuce, tomato, eggplant, and organic inputs among others.

On the other hand, Neal Del Rosario, CLSU Small Ruminant Center (SRC) Head and the program’s resident expert on goat production shared his knowledge in the different systems of small ruminant management, breeds, feeding, and milk production.

Besides the typical printed modules and reading materials available, AgriATM also used non-traditional media to teach the participants in the training.

Lessons are integrated with techno-videos that helped them understand more the topics.

Quizzes and topic-related games are also included to test their knowledge, and to have a more interactive and fun atmosphere while studying.

“Hindi naman po kami nahirapan o nalito [mag-access] online,” said one of the participants of the training when asked about the interface and the general experience of the electronic modules used.

He added, “okay [rin] po ang [videos], madami po kaming natutunan na hindi [pa] alam.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Geraldine Sanchez, PSAU Director for Extension thanked the participants for their eagerness to learn and try the modules and access them in the website.

Participants are awarded certificates of completion after the program.

AgriATM is a Commission on Higher Education funded program implemented by CLSU that aims to develop and deliver timely extension modular trainings and expert assistance in agriculture and fisheries for livelihood enterprise in an e-learning platform for use in blended learning environment for farmers, fishers, women, youth, LGU-based extension workers, and other interested clients in situ, in Central Luzon.