The Agricultural Training Insitute's (ATI) perspectives on achieving SDG's and how to improve investments and government policy towards higher agricultural education in SE Asia. HESA-SIANI August 2017 Philippines Workshop

1. GOVERNMENT POLICIES, PERSPECTIVES AND
PLANS ON ACHIEVING SDGs AND
STRENGTHENING HESA & FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
What the ATI Can Say
Andrew D. Gasmen, Ph.D.
Chief, Policy and Standards Development Section
Agricultural Training Institute/
President, Philippine Extension and Advisory Services Network Inc.
Philippine Academic-Government-Farmer-Agency Policy Dialogue
August 3, 2017 University Hotel, UP Diliman, Quezon City

2. In this presentation
Brief About ATI
Perspective on the Achievement of SDGs
Recommendation to improve government policies &
public investment in HAE
Constraints and Policy Recommendations
Suggestions for Collaboration with SUCs

3. The Lead Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries Extension

4. Brief description
• Overall manager of agriculture and fisheries training and
extension of the Philippines
• Lead agency for extension of the Department of Agriculture
• National apex organization that provides leadership for a
unified and efficient agriculture and fisheries extension system
• Lead agency for electronic extension for the agriculture and
fisheries sector in the country

5. Functions
• Lead in the formulation of the national extension agenda and programs (NEAP)
and budget
• Prepare an integrated plan for publicly-funded training programs in agriculture
and fisheries
• Formulate and issue guidelines in planning, implementing, monitoring and
evaluating AFE programs
• Assist, in coordination with SUCs, the LGU extension system by improving their
effectiveness and efficiency through capability building and complementary
extension activities such as technical assistance, training of LGU personnel,
improvement of physical facilities, extension cum research, and information
support services

6. Core Competencies
• Extension policy development and standards setting
• Strategic extension systems planning, monitoring and
evaluation
• Knowledge management
• Extension curricula development
• Extension partnership and grants management
Formulation of extension agenda and programs for the national
and regional levels
Professionalization of extension workers

7. Vision
• By the end of 2022, food is available and affordable
through leadership and excellence in agriculture and
fisheries extension services
Mission
 We empower and build capacities of agriculture and
fisheries stakeholders for sustainable development

8. Resources
• 16 Regional Training Centers
• 1 International Training Center in Pig Husbandry
• 400 personnel

9.  The Attainment of SDGs food security and sustainable
development largely depends on strong, well-capacitated human
resources in agriculture and fisheries sector
 Recognizing pluralism in extension, there is a need for a
harmonized, well-coordinated extension system providing
extension services to diverse extension clients within the
framework of agriculture innovation system

10. Knowledge Development Knowledge UtilizationKnowledge Dissemination
ATI*
Private ESPs
NGAs/SUCs
LGUs
*Role of the ATI:
• ensure a strong capability of extension service providers
• ensure efficient delivery of extension services
National Level
Knowledge Channel
Local Level
Knowledge Channel
Knowledge UsersKnowledge Source
 Farmers/fishers and
their families &
communities
 Clients along the value
chain:
 Input suppliers
 Producers
 Processors
 Traders
 Consumers
 Other Clients
 R & D Institutions
 Market Institutions
 Other Sources of
Knowledge

11. National Government Private Sector Local Government
1. Composition
 National Government Agencies
until the Regional level
 State Universities and Colleges
 Farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives,
 rural-based organizations
 civil society organizations
 non-government organizations
 people’s organizations
Province
Cities
Municipalities
2. Delineation of services
 Technical assistance
 Training of LGU extension
personnel
 Improvement of physical facilities
 Extension cum research
 Information support services
 training and other complementary
extension services
 community organizing
 use of participatory approaches
 popularization of training materials
 regenerative agricultural technologies
 agri-business and
 management skills
direct agriculture and fisheries
extension services to farmers and
fisherfolk and their communities

12. Role of SUCs
Improvement of extension capabilities of LGUs
1. Degree and non-degree training programs
2. Technical Assistance
3. Extension and research activities
4. Monitoring and evaluation of extension projects
5. Information support services
AFMA-IRR Rule 90.8

13. Thematic Programs Results
ImpactsOutcomeEffects
Enhancing Access to AFE Knowledge
Products and Services
Strengthening Competitiveness and
Capacities of the AF Sector
Expanding Partnerships in Advancing
Excellence in AFE Delivery
Scaling-Up AFE innovations
Strengthening AFE Stakeholders’ Capacity in
Climate Change Resilience & Disaster Risk
Management
Improving Enabling Environment and Quality
of Governance
Improved
KSA
Efficient and
Effective
Knowledge
Management
Available and
Affordable
Food
 Food Security
 Poverty
Alleviation &
Social Equity
 Sustainable
Development
Productive and
Empowered
Individuals, Groups &
Communities
AFE Development Framework
Source: The National Extension Agenda and Programs 2017-2022, ATI

14.  More objective stakeholders consultations to generate
appropriate and need-based information as basis for sound
policies and regulations in agricultural education
 Build strategic alliance with stakeholders, specifically from the
agriculture, fisheries and natural resources sectors to address
specific concerns in the improvement of agriculture curricula (eg
PhilEASNet, APIRAS)

16. Constraints
Policy Actions/ Recommendations
Intermediate Long-term
Fragmented extension
services
Organized the Agriculture and
Fisheries Extension Network
(AFEN)
• Legislative: Push for
the enactment of the
AF Extension Bill
• Executive: Adoption of
a Collaborative
Provincial Agriculture
and Fisheries
Extension System
Research results not
properly communicated
thru extension
Build strategic alliance with R & D
institutions
Setbacks of the
devolution on extension
Accredited private Extension
Services Providers to complement
LGUs
Poor delivery of
extension services
Implemented training courses on
Extension Delivery Systems, etc.
to professionalize extension

17. Extension
Research
Important policy issue
Imbalance of
incentives of research
against extension
Research has Scientific Career System
that allows for promotion of
researchers to Scientists provided
under RA 8439 or Magna Carta for
Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and
other S&T Personnel in the Government

18. ResearchExtension
Proposed alternatives
1. Include extension workers as
among the beneficiaries of RA 8439
2. Push for the enactment of Magna
Carta for Extension Workers

19. What has the RA 8439 presented
to extension system…
An opportunity for Extension Workers under RA 8439
 Section 3. Definition of Scientific and Technological
Activities (STA). All systematic activities which are closely
concerned with the generation, advancement,
dissemination, and application of scientific and
technical knowledge in all fields of natural science and
technology

21. How SUCs can help ATI fulfill its mandate
1. As a source of knowledge and a wealth of expertise, SUCs
professors and experts can be Resource Persons to highly
technical subjects or provide technical assistance to ATI on how
to improve its services
2. Conduct innovation studies on how to improve extension
approaches and modalities
3. Use resources for technology demonstration of sustainable
technologies
4. Conduct evaluation studies of Extension Programs

22. Building capacities for the “New Extensionists”
1. Adapt a model of the “AgriDOC”
2. Initiate discussions with CHED and SUCs on how to improve
existing SUCs curricula that are fit to prepare students to
become competent extension workers once they are employed
The “New Extensionist” is a character of an extension worker that is
responsive, innovative, results-oriented, skilled in communication,
facilitation, establishing linkage and brokering of knowledge in an
agriculture innovation system.

23. Thank you!