Gusa, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY---The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) recently conducted a series of Training of Trainers (TOT) Courses on Organic Agriculture (OA), to equip its new batch of extension workers with the latest farming knowledge and appropriate farming technologies.

The TOT courses are being conducted at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels in order to fast track the implementation and provide stakeholders with a unified understanding on how OA activities are implemented. The training courses employs different training methodologies such as lecture-discussions (via online or face-to-face), hands-on activities, and field visit.

The training courses were created following the policy outlines of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, which is to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

“Through this training, I gained a deeper appreciation and committed to practice and promote more the organic agriculture in our farm and in my profession as AEW. I better understand that the goal of organic agriculture is to contribute to the enhancement of sustainability, local resources and stewardship of the environment as well as expanding its impact beyond food supply and of course on ecological health as this is an emphasis in Organic Agriculture”, says Kimberly Ann Dawn B. Medellin of Tudela, Misamis Occidental during the sharing of learnings and impressions.

Due to the implementation of Mandanas-Garcia ruling, the new Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) are needed to be trained in different farming technologies as part of the capacity building activities, and impart their knowledge and skills later on in their respective Local Government Units (LGUs).

Participants of the said workshop are immersed with hands-on activities such as producing organic concoctions, lokong making using banana leaves, mixing of feeds, identification of grass and forages, as well as a lecture and farm visit at SPA-Fergber, Integrated Organic Urban Farm.

“I learned a lot things pointing organic farming on this 5 day training. The most informative topic that I’ve learned is to make your/our own fertilizers. Making concoctions and on vermiculture. It is also a timely training because inorganic fertilizers are very expensive at the moment. By using organic, you can lessen your farm inputs or production cost. Also you can ensure the health and integrity of your own produce”, says Josephus C. Arellano of Kibawe, Bukidnon.

A total of twenty two (22) participants attended the training, coming from the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte. An action plan for the implementation of Organic Agriculture Program in their locality were created during the training proper on March 14-18, 2022 at the Harborlights Hotel & Restaurant, in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City.

The same kind of training will be conducted for the year 2023 and 2024, since hiring of more AEWs in the LGUs are expected due to the Mandanas-Garcia ruling implementation. (with reports provided by OA Program Point Person and Agriculturist-II Javier P. Andalan)