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Taiwan increases 2023 internship slots for young Filipino farmers

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora

November 11, 2022, 4:52 pm

<p style="text-align: left;">TECO Representative Peiyung Hsu during an interview on the sidelines of the turnover ceremony for the USD400,000 donation for Severe Tropical Storm Paeng victims. <em>(PNA photo by Jesus Escaros)</em></p>

TECO Representative Peiyung Hsu during an interview on the sidelines of the turnover ceremony for the USD400,000 donation for Severe Tropical Storm Paeng victims. (PNA photo by Jesus Escaros)

MANILA – Young Filipino farmers are encouraged to get internships in Taiwan next year to further help the Philippines boost its agricultural sector.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Representative Peiyung Hsu said at least 100 slots for farmers aged 19 to 35 who are interested to do on-the-job training in Taiwanese farms would be opened for Filipinos in 2023.

The airfare would be shouldered by the applicant but lodging and at least USD600 monthly allowance would be provided, Hsu said.

"This year, we (allotted) 50 but eventually only 48 were able to go to Taiwan, they are now working in 33 farms in Taiwan," he told reporters in an interview. "Next year, we will increase this to 100 so the selection process will start in January again."

The program, named Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan, is a partnership between the Department of Agriculture, TECO and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).

Interested farmers, Hsu said, would have to coordinate with their respective regional DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

The first batch, composed of 29 farmers, finished their 11-month program last September 2022.

At least 48, on the other hand, were able to join the second batch that flew to Taiwan last August 2022.

"It is a sustainable project so we really like to see in the future if we could train more than 1,000 young farmers," Hsu said.

"Personally, I'm very attached to this project. I travel a lot in your country and I would love to see farmers get help," he added.

MECO chairperson Silvestre Bello III said his office would also like to forge more fruitful partnerships with TECO in the future, including on agricultural technology and aquaculture, among others. (PNA)

 

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