LAS NIEVES, Agusan del Norte – In a tiny barangay of Maningalao situated a 20-hectare farm practicing integrated-diversified farming system which was recently added to the 80 certified learning sites in Caraga. RNJ Farm, owned by Ms. Maria Ruth N. Jugao was certified as a Learning Site after having complied with all conditions required for Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) under the Regular/Good Agricultural Practices category.

Worth noting, the certification was approved shortly one week after the conduct of ocular inspection/field validation of the Regional Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 13.

Awarding of Certificate of Learning Site was given by Mr. Samuel L. Calonzo, OIC-Center Director of the ATI-RTC 13 to the cooperator, Ms. Maria Ruth Jugao on Friday, March 8, 2019. Mr. Calonzo was assisted by Mr. Heracleo A. Paler, Sr. Agriculturist/Chief, Partnership and Accreditation Services Section and Ms. Leah I. Napoco, Technical Staff.

As cooperator, Ms. Jugao committed to provide counterpart for the development of her farm for greater benefit of various stakeholders and make it readily available as demonstration area for hands-on training. She also vowed to continuously enhance her knowledge and skills as she will now be part of the pool of trainers or resource person for training participants or field visit groups arranged by ATI and even for walk-in clients.

A day before the awarding, the TWG also conducted evaluation and validation of four other LSA applicants namely: Department of Agriculture - Del Monte Lowland Rainfed Research Station in Del Monte, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur; Cubillas Agri-Venture Farm, a recipient of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) in Sitio Dalingdingan, Pinamanculan, Butuan City; Sunrise Farm in Bonbon, Butuan City; and, Ragas Farm in Sanghan, City of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte. All except Sunrise Farm were endorsed for certification.

The TWG was composed of Mr. Paler, Mr. Fil Victor A. Babanto, Chief/Information Services Section, and Engr. Matt Bacquaino, Agriculturist II with Ms. Mary Jane A. Gonzaga, DMO I as secretariat (with reports from MJGonzaga & LNapoco).