A large delegation of farm workers in Batangas province are bound for South Korea to study agriculture technology to bring home knowledge about the latest farming practices.
In an interview on Tuesday, Governor Hermilando Mandanas expressed confidence that the foreign training opportunity will result in much-needed technology transfer, paving the way to enhanced agricultural productivity for the province.
It was explained that the 161-member delegation is composed of seasonal farm workers, who mostly accept short-term jobs during planting and harvest time, and are often subsistence-level earners.
The schooling, which is free of charge, is expected to raise participants’ competency as agriculture sector workers, turning them into highly-skilled individuals who can command better pay.
Mandanas said one batch of trainees already left last April 20 and another batch will fly on Wednesday.
The foreign schooling effort is jointly managed by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) and the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO), to help advance Batangas’ agricultural sector, the governor added.
The training will be conducted at state-of-the-art facilities in Chuncheon City and Hoengseong county in Gangwon Province – a renowned agricultural hub in South Korea.
Mandanas reminded the participants that while they are in the host country, they must always conduct themselves as good ambassadors of Batangas province. (PNA)