THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority has introduced a program that aims to help upland farmers increase their yield.

The Sustainable Integrated Development in Slope Land Areas seeks to reach out to farmers in upland areas as part of the whole-of-nation approach to sustainable development, peace, and order.

TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña said that the program is implemented through the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Lapeña said that since his assumption as TESDA chief in 2018, agriculture has been one of his priorities.

“We continue to train our farmers especially those who are in the far-flung communities because empowering our farmers is among the important keys to strengthen the agriculture sector,” he said.

Various TESDA field offices have started capacitating agriculture trainers by providing them with the skills and knowledge in slope farming to assist farmers in developing a sustainable integrated system through Sloping Agricultural Land Technology.

Several trainers from the TESDA Technology Institutions in Region II, VI, XI, among others, have undergone the SIDLA-SALT training.

Trainees are taught what crops to plant that could thrive in mountainous areas and how to contour slopes. They are also taught how to prevent soil erosion and loss of nutrients.

In Davao de Oro, TESDA launched SIDSLA-SALT training participated by 40 farmers in New Tibungco, Poblacion, in the municipality of Montevista.

On April 12, TESDA launched in Region XI SIDSLA-SALT training wherein 126 residents consisting of farmers, former rebels and indigenous people participated.