New LSAs – Mr. Cyril Cabrera (upper photo, center) and Atty. Alipio V. Badelles (lower photo, 3rd from right) are the new farmer cooperators whose farms are recently accredited as Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs) of ATI - RTC X. They are farmers who are willing to share their farm practices and technologies to other farmers.
EL SALVADOR CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL – Two (2) new farms worthy of emulation, employing doable farming strategies and operating successfully have been recently accredited as Learning Site for Agriculture (LSAs) by the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center X (ATI – RTC X). These farms were Cush Prime Ventures Natural Farm (CPV Natural Farm) of Pangabuan, Tangub City, and Yima-B Nature Farm of Sitio Mimbalot, Buru-un, Iligan City.
Yima-B Nature Farm is a family-owned farm operated by former Lanao del Norte 1st District Congressman Atty. Alipio V Badilles. The farm has already accommodated farmers whom the City Agriculture Office of Iligan has served in practical and hands-on, and classroom type learning.
The main component of the farm are fruit bearing trees like mangoes, durians, coconuts, bananas, santol, lanzones, jackfruit, star apple and rambutan, among others. It has recently added cacao and coffee as part of their farm diversification. It also showcases vegetable production, corn production and ornamental plants and flowers production. The farm applies processing technologies in order to sustain farm capabilities and improve the productivity of the area.
Another newly accredited LSA of ATI-RTC X is the CPV Natural Farm of Barangay Pangabuan, Tangub City, Misamis Occidental. It was established in April 2017 with Poultry Raising, particularly Free-Range Chicken Production, as the main component of the farm. Operated and managed by Mr. Cyril Cabrera, the farm employs natural farming methods applying the minimum standards for Organic Agriculture based on Philippine National Standards (PNS).
CPV Natural Farm is a member of Misamis Occidental Organic Agriculture Association, Inc. (MOOAA, Inc.). The farm is already making its own feed formulation by utilizing the by-products of the other farms who are also members of the MOOAA, Inc. Through these initiatives and innovations, CPV Natural Farm has reduced its production cost without sacrificing the quality of its product.
The development and utilization of LSA is one innovative extension modality conceptualized by the ATI. Successful farmers worthy of emulation and willing to share their technologies right in their own farms are tapped as partners in the implementation of training and extension interventions, particularly for hands-on training or on-the-job instruction to complement classroom instruction. These experienced and successful farmers and agri-product entrepreneurs are recognized as the best trainers of fellow farmers because of the principles of farmer-to-farmer learning, learning-by-doing and actual farm experience.
LSA development involves capacity-building for the farmer-owner and development of his farm or processing enterprise to become a worthy learning site. The farm development aspect includes provision of basic farm tools, farm lot improvement, construction of holding area, wash area and toilet, enabling the LSA to showcase improved agricultural technologies and practices. (with reports from Jisa T. Dulay)