Learning by doing: Participants listen to RP Pedro Lim during their field demonstration and of planting cacao seedlings.
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte- Two batches of training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on Cacao Production with cacao nursery establishment and management was conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) 13 from May 28 -June 1, 2018.
This aimed at enhancing the participants’ knowledge, attitude and skills on GAP for Cacao Production.
This is through the effort of the institute’s Partnership and Accreditation Services Section (PASS) under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Overview of the cacao industry, status and prospects of the industry and marketing opportunities were among the topics discussed during the session. This is along with the elements of good agricultural practices, cacao nursery establishment and management and cultural management practices.
Discussion on the pests and diseases of cacao and their control measures were also highlighted during the training along with its harvest and post-harvest management.
The participants were also requested to formulate and present action plans as one of their outputs during the training and it ends well.
Around 60 cacao farmers from the five provinces of Caraga were equipped on the good agricultural practices on cacao production.
“Isip usa ka farmer, usa kini ka dakong oportunidad alang kanako tungod kay nakadugang kini og kahibalo sa pagpananom sa cacao ug uban pang mga tanom sa among umahan. (As a farmer, it is a big opportunity to me because it enhanced my knowledge on how to plant cacao and other crops in our farms)”, said Mr. Ricarlito Acedo, one of the participants during the training. He is a farmer from Brgy. Basag, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
According to him, the learning that they got from the training is worthwhile because it entails the whole perspective of the Philippine economy specifically on cacao industry. For him, planting cacao following the standard of GAP is a must.
The Good Agricultural Practices is used to prevent or reduce the risk of hazards occurring during production, harvesting and postharvest handling of produce.
The two batches of training were successfully culminated on June 1, 2018 at San Lorenzo Pastoral Center, Ampayon, Butuan City (with report from DBautista).