CAPAS, Tarlac – In a vibrant display of tradition and hope, the Ayta community of Sitio Binyayan last month marked the start of their agricultural training with a ritual led by chieftain Berlin Capiz. The ceremony, rooted in ancestral practices, served as both a prayer for abundance and an expression of gratitude to nature.
The agricultural training is part of the Ayta Ethno Botanical Center (AEBC), a 10-hectare facility in New Clark City spearheaded by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in partnership with the Pampanga State Agricultural University and the Department of Agriculture.
The program aims to strengthen the community’s skills in sustainable farming—covering rice and high-value crops production, pest and nutrient management, climate resilience, and entrepreneurship—while integrating cultural heritage with agricultural science.