Tesda director general Joel Villanueva said this was made possible after the agency forged a partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Villanueva said they will give training, competency assessment and certificates to AEWs and qualified farmer graduates who pass the assessment, while the DA will identify the participants who will undergo the competency assessment and trainers’ methodology training to be conducted by the Tesda.

Both agencies will review the existing curriculum, training modules and materials to align them with Tesda’s agriculture-related courses.

The tie-up was contained in a memorandum of greement signed by Villanueva and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala last week.

“Agricultural extension workers are the first link of the government to the farmers.  They are like the soldiers of the Department of Agriculture in the field,” Villanueva said.

According to him, farm workers depend on AEWs for technical advice and information.  The success of extension programs to a large degree will be determined by the ability of the AEWs to pass on to farmers new ideas and technical know-how, Villanueva said.

Undergoing trainings, assessment and receiving certification are vital for AEWs to ensure that they help the farm workers reach their full potentials in making their lands useful and productive, he added.

AEWs were formerly directly under the supervision of the national government through the DA, but were devolved to the local government units under the Local Government Code of 1991.

The DA will shoulder the fees for training and assessment of AEWs through its agricultural training institutes. 

(Claudeth Mocon)