By Susan C. Aro
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The provincial government’s
exchange program on agricultural farming is contributory to success of the
farming systems in a Japan prefecture.
Gov. Crescencio
Pacalso shared this news following his visit and meeting with provincial and
municipal executives of Kochi Prefecture and Susaki municipality in Japan.
Through
invitation, Pacalso visited Japan March 30 to April 5, which coincided with the
20th anniversary exchange program between Kochi Prefecture and Benguet.
The Kochi
government through the years, appreciated the presence of farmer- trainees in
their place.
The Japanese
observed farmers from the province are doing their job well and have a good
record compared to others.
“ If not
for our farmers, they might not be able to produce agricultural commodities
similar to what is being produced here and may be not be able to produce that
much,” Pacalso said.
There are
about 300 Benguet farmer-trainees spread all over Japan who availed
of the program through the provincial government, aside from those who
applied directly in the municipalities, said Pacalso.
Farmer trainees
in Japan can only stay for up to three years at one time, meaning they can no
longer renew their contract.
They are paid
about P30, 000 monthly, have free accommodation and are allotted food allowance
in kind.
Pacalso who also met the farmer-trainees clamored
for an extended period of training which the Japanese government assured to
work out from three years to five years.
The period of
their stay is covered by the country’s immigration laws which have not been
amended, he added.
Japan needs farming trainees from outside as many of
its population are elderly.
Children once they get out of their area to acquire
college education no longer go back but instead find a job somewhere else like
in Tokyo,Pacalso said. -- PIA-CAR
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