As part of the Lakbay AgriATM: Agri, Set, Go! Roadshow in Tarlac, selected rural farmers, fishers, and women engaged to the said extension training last June 16, 2022 at Rang-Ay iti Mannalon New Technology Agriculture Complex in Anao.

Tilapia production, goat raising, mushroom, and organic production were discussed to the 30 participants who first underwent to the profiling facilitated by Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) led by Dr. Yolanda Guillermo, TAU Director for Extension.

Anao was chosen as one of Agri Aral Tekno Mobil’s target locations in Tarlac because of the municipality’s farmers’ potential and progressive outlook.

The training’s setup was like that of a classroom setting, as the participants used the copyrighted electronic and printed modules by AgriATM while the experts were discussing their topics, making it more participatory compare to a typical extension training.

Dr. Emmanuel Vera Cruz, Professor VI and the program’s expert on tilapia raising discussed the different types, management, feeding, and byproducts from tilapia such as the Tilapia Ice Cream and “TilaDing” or dried tilapia by CLSU.

On the other hand, Bismark Francisco, Researcher from Center for Tropical Mushroom and Development (CTMRD) – CLSU, and AgriATM expert on mushroom production talked about spawn production, harvesting, and recipes with mushroom.

Educational videos on goat raising and organic farming were also played during the Lakbay AgriATM.

AgriATM also partnered with CLSU Information Technology and Communication and Development Studies Departments in the field by providing assistance during the training.

Participants will not only be capacitated via training, but potentially can be chosen as beneficiaries of the startup kits on their chosen commodity/ies through “Asenso AgriATM”, as long as they met certain standards by the program.

The Asenso AgriATM aims to provide startup kits on goat, mushroom, organic farming, and/or tilapia to enhance the selected beneficiaries’ livelihood/ business enterprises, to overall improve their lives, or can ease food insecurity in the locale.

The training in Anao was the last of the three consecutive trips of the AgriATM van in Tarlac, first in Barangay Bantog in Victoria on June 14th, then in San Roque, La Paz on June 15th.

The CHED funded program will continue its Lakbay AgriATM Roadshow in Pampanga, in collaboration with Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU).

Agri Aral Tekno Mobil is a CHED NAFES program that is being implemented by Central Luzon State University.