Participants collect insect pests during their surveillance in the field.
CABADBARAN CITY, Agusan del Norte – The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 recently conducted a three-day training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Cassava Production for cassava farmers of Cabadbaran City on September 25-27, 2019.
The said GAP training aims to explain the foundation of GAP cassava, its importance and status of cassava industry in the Philippines, educate the farmers regarding the GAP Certification guidelines and code of practices for the reduction of HCN for cassava products.
The resource persons of the training were Mr. Francis Louie Parina, Mr. Beb Palingcod and Mr. Julius Ceasar P. Lomarada, all from the Office of Provincial Agriculturist-Agusan del Norte. Mr. Parina discussed the cultural practices, integrated pest & diseases of cassava and seed system of cassava. He also emphasized the important of cassava industry specially in developing country.
On the other hand, Mr. Lomarda talked about the post-harvest operation to storage. He explained the importance of GAP during that period when it comes to the product’s safety for the consumers and the environment. Mr. Palingcod from DA Regulatory Office, elaborated the GAP certification guidelines and protocols.
Participants raised up their major concern specially the price of cassava and its quality production. As they know that the cassava roots are very susceptible to contamination specifically during post-harvest operations. To minimize or avoid this contamination, participants really wanted to acquire machinery and they need support from the DA.
Maria Arceli Soria, City Agriculturist of Cabadbaran suggested and proposed that farmers must create an organization so that they can avail farm machinery like farm tractor, cassava grater and others.
Moreover, participants were toured to Brgy. Soriano for insect pests and diseases surveillance. They were able to identify the insect pests present during the field visit.
Mr. Neptali V. Madarimot, Training Specialist II of ATI-Caraga served as the Project Officer of the said training (with report from NVMadarimot).