Techno Gabay adopted as nat'l extension system

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo signed last May 14 Executive Order 801 providing for the adoption of the Techno Gabay Program (TGP) the national extension system.

EO 801 prescribes the implementation of the TGP in the local government units (LGUs) in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Commission on Higher Education – State Universities and Colleges, among other concerned agencies. 

TGP enables the agriculture extension service to bring science and technology within the reach of farmers/entrepreneurs and facilitate their access to a wider array of options for improving agricultural practices and increasing farm productivity.

Providing the impetus for this crucial proclamation is PGMA’s recognition of the Techno Gabay accomplishments as well as its “productivity- and profitability-enhancing capability.”

The program serves as a platform for bringing together various actors in knowledge generation, diffusion, and utilization to achieve the common goals of improving farm productivity, increasing farmers’ income, and enhancing competitiveness of agricultural products.

These are accomplished through four interrelated modalities, namely: Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS); Farmer-Scientist or Magsasaka Siyentista (MS); information, education and communication (IEC) strategies; and information and communications technology (ICT).

The TGP has its roots in “Techno Pinoy sa Probinsiya” and “Farmer Scientist Bureau or MS” projects initially funded by Sen. Edgardo Angara amounting to P16 million in 1997.