CHR lauds farmers' skills training by TESDA
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has lauded the government’s efforts to increase food production by providing skills training to farmers on seedlings production, farm mechanization, post-harvest activities, and entrepreneurship.
It said the trainings being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) under the Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) are "empowering" moves to eradicate hunger and poverty in the country.
The training courses are on Production of High-Quality Inbred Rice and Seed Certification and Farm Mechanization, Rice Machinery Operations, Drying and Milling Plant Servicing, Agro-entrepreneurship, Pest and Nutrients Management, and Digital Agriculture.
The CHR said that TESDA has already allotted over 50,000 scholarship slots under the RESP this 2022, and so far, 25,494 rice farmers have already enrolled. Aside from the trainings, each farmer scholar will even be given a P160 daily allowance, it said.
"The Commission lauds these efforts by TESDA to make the agricultural sector 'viable, efficient and globally competitive' as mandated by Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Liberalization Act," said CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia.
"Investment in the productive capacity of agriculture not only reaps economic benefits in the long run, provision of such programs also indicates a commitment to the achievement of SGD2 (2nd Sustainable Development Goal) or food security," she said.
She lamented that the country's farmers remain vulnerable especially because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, climate crisis, fluctuating global market, and high inflation. “Because of this, the government needs to uphold equal access to land, technology, markets, and sustainable food production systems,” she said.
"The government must continue to strengthen its services to alleviate our farmers’ plight and support their livelihood. We repeat our consistent call: Let us ensure that our farmers are provided with equal dignity and rights, inasmuch as they provide sustenance to ensure a productive population," she added.