Agata’s Mabakas is the first assessment center for Organic Farming in the Province
Jabonga, Agusan del Norte / September 2019 – Both farmers and farm workers in Agusan del Norte may now avail of complete NCII courses on Organic Agriculture Production and the opportunity to undergo assessment authorized by the country’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) – all in the Agata-supported Mabakas Techno Demo Farm in Jabonga Municipality of this province.
After almost one year in the making, Agata completed the establishment of the Mabakas Farm School in Sitio Coro, Jabonga in 2018 and took-off from the company’s former Techno Demo Farm in the area. Prior to being a certified farm school, the facility served as a training site for vegetable and urban gardening as well as a community nursery for various plant species.
From its humble beginnings – and motivated by the aspirations of its communities to develop their own vegetable and livestock farms – Mabakas became a gamechanger as the first organic agriculture production assessment center run by a mining company in the Caraga Region.
Today, with more than 1,300 students trained, the institution can officially assess the competency of its graduates (through examinations) and determine their eligibility to earn a TESDA National Certification, which opens doors to better career opportunities.
The organic way
Organic Agriculture Production NCII is a short TESDA course in the Philippines that trains individuals in producing farm products without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or artificial agents.
The course also trains its students to apply safety measures in farm operations, to identify and use proper tools and equipment, perform estimation and calculations, develop and update one’s industry knowledge, and keep financial records of their operations.
The student likewise undergo practical tests in producing organic fertilizers, vegetables, concoctions and extracts as well as raising hogs and small ruminants. The course requires 232 hours of training and attendance in order to be able to take the assessment exam for certification.
Agata’s CRO Staff and School Administrator Sheilah Mae Arcala explained that while Agata may not be able to provide employment for everyone, Mabakas has helped communities evolve towards productivity and self-reliance through Organic Farming. “iI brings them closer to a sustainable future.” said Arcala, who is also awarded “TESDA Idol” of the province and nominated for the nationwide Search for TESDA Idol.
Opportunities ahead
“The Mabakas Techno Demo Farm School is Agata’s legacy to us. It gave us ways to provide healthy food on our table, nurture our land, and to also create livelihood right in our backyard,” said Diezel Leop, one of the pioneer graduates from Barangay Tagbuyacan, who now works in the Agata Agroland Nursery.
“My husband used to tell me that it was a waste of time learning organic farming. But, when our gardens bore fruit, it completely changed his view, including that of our neighbors,” she highlighted.
In the months ahead, Mabakas students will undergo their individual assessments. It will pave the way to job opportunities for indigenous people, housewives and other sectors in the community.
“We really commend Agata for pursuing its commitment to serve and make the Mabakas facility available to an ‘extended community’ in our province,” shared TESDA Provincial Director Julius Sol Jamero. To date, Mabakas has extended its assistance and trainings to different far-flung communities in the municipalities of Nasipit, Buenavista, and Las Nieves.
A Mamanwa word for ‘hardworking,’ Mabakas remains true to its literal origin as the institution continues to reach-out beyond its communities and share opportunities with industrious and enterprising Mindanawons.
Dedication
Agata’s Community Relations Superintendent Jonathan Bañez shared that Agata’s commitment to provide sustainable livelihood – in addition to employment generated by its mining operations – is being integrated through Mabakas. “We rally all our stakeholders towards achieving prosperous, self-reliant and healthier communities,” he added.
Under the Integrated Area-Growth Approach Towards Attaining Sustainability (iAGATAs) program, all livelihood interventions for the communities under the company’s Social Development Management Program (SDMP) are being consolidated in order to tap bigger urban markets such as Butuan and Surigao Cities. This resulted in the establishment of the Mabakas Producers Cooperative – a trading hub that enables Agata’s trained farmers to sell their produce at competitive prices and provide more sustainability to their livelihood.
Agata Mining Ventures Inc. is a joint nickel laterite project of TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. and MRL Nickel Philippines operating in the towns of Tubay, Jabonga and Santiago. It is hosted by coastal and inland farming communities that include the indigenous Mamanwa Tribe as a recipient of Royalty Shares from its mining operations.
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