SUMILIHON, Butuan City–The Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) is implemented in various schools to boost the awareness of the students on the significance of vegetable production and consumption. These school gardens also serve as ready-food baskets of the feeding programs to address malnutrition.

To sustain the program, the GPP coordinators of the respective schools should be equipped with knowledge on the basic requirements and procedures in implementing the program particularly on organic agriculture.
In response to this, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 13 in collaboration with the Local Government Unit of Butuan City through the Office of the City Agriculturist and the Department of Education (DepEd) conducted the Seminar on Wheels: Seminar on Organic Vegetable Gardening last August 28-29, 2019 at Sumilihon Central Elementary School.

The participants were Head Teachers and GPP coordinators of various schools in Butuan City, and, Agricultural Technician (AT). The Resource Persons from the Office of the City Agriculturist shared their knowledge and expertise on Organic Agriculture. Ms. Joan Dela Torre discussed the features and principles of the Organic Agriculture Law of 2010 and Nature Farming Technology System (NFTS). Mr. Eric Ancheta explained the cultural management for vegetable production. Aside from lectures, the participants also performed the different concoctions such as Fermented Fruit Juice, Fermented Plant Juice and others.

The participants were exposed to Perolina Farm, a Learning Site for Agriculture in Dumalagan, Butuan City. Jaime Perolina is a Magsasaka Siyentista and LSA co-operator some of his innovations and best practices employed in his vegetable production.

OIC City Agriculturist Pierre Anthony Joven encouraged the GPP implementers to practice Organic Agriculture in their vegetable gardening projects. He also guaranteed that their office is more than willing to provide technical assistance. As starters, vegetable seeds and other production inputs were distributed to the participants courtesy of the Office of the City Agriculturist.