Participants of ToT on GAP for Banana Production visit banana tissue culture area at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University at North La Union Campus, Bacnotan, La Union.
The Philippines is a major producer of bananas. It produces additional types and plantains, such as the Lakatan and the Saba/Cardaba, in addition to the Cavendish banana for export. Bananas is one of the most commonly traded fruits and the country ranks second among significant producers.
As one of the prioritized commodities under the High-Value Crops Program (HVCP), the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) conducted the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Banana Production on May 23-27, 2022 at ATI-RTC 1 Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
The five-day training capacitated 31 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from different cities and municipalities in the region with knowledge on Banana Code of Good Agricultural Practices, which is focused on food safety and banana quality.
Among the activities included in the training were lecture discussions on various management approaches based on the Philippine National Standard Code (PNSC) for GAP Banana and GAP Certification Guidelines. The participants were also taught about climate change, including its causes, consequences, mitigation, and adaptation strategies.
Mock inspections and actual demonstration were also done at Fer-Gie Navarro's Farm in Santo Tomas, La Union; Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) -North La Union Campus; and in Karuba Farm, Bacnotan, La Union. This activity demonstrates operations and methods that are in accordance with appropriate agricultural practices.
ATI-RTC 1 continues to provide AEWs with knowledge and skills on PNSC for GAP bananas as part of a long-term strategy in extending the market for Philippine bananas.