PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur – Actively participated by the vegetable farmers’ association from the barangays of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and supported by the Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), the Training on Organic Vegetable Production was conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Institute (ATI-RTC) XIII last November 19-21, 2018 at Hygeia Integrameds Center, Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur.

With the recently conducted National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC), Municipal Agriculturist Viña R. Ranoco urged the 30 vegetable growers during her welcome message to revive the display of organic vegetables as Mayor Jenny D. De Asis pushes for organic vegetable production among farmers within the municipality.

Samuel L. Calonzo, OIC-Center Director of ATI-RTC XIII, added that there are three ways to sell organically-grown products. First is when the seller/farmer claims that his/her products are organic without any seal. Second is when the buyer sets the standard. Lastly, when the product is compliant to the Philippine National Standards (PNS).

Topics discussed were Leadership and Values Re-orientation, History of Modernization of Agriculture, Basic Principles and Concepts in Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilient Agriculture, Factors on Organic Vegetable Production, and Financial Literacy. It also included a hands-on activity on organic fertilizer production such as the Indigenous Microorganism (IMO), Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), and Fish Amino Acid (FAA). Lolito Noja Jr. and Ailyn Aleman, both Agricultural Technologists (ATs) from the MAO, and Aldrin Abapo from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) served as the training’s resource speakers.