LOS BAÑOS, Laguna- The Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for fruits and vegetables is a set of practices that aims to prevent and minimize the of risk occurrences which include those of food safety, environmental impact, worker health, safety and welfare, and product quality. To address the need to increase the number of farmers adopting GAP, the Agricultural Training Institute Region IV-A recently concluded a 16-weeks Season-Long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Good Agricultural Practices for Fruits and Vegetables and a Farmer’s Field School (FFS) on Good Agricultural Practices.

Generally, the course aims to develop vegetable trainers who will lead in implementing the training and extension components of the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) to train farmers as well as agricultural technologists in their respective provinces and municipalities. Also, the training emphasized the general hygienic practices for the production and primary processing of fresh fruits and vegetables cultivated for human consumption, particularly those intended to be consumed raw in line in the code.

The training developed and equipped a total of nineteen (19) Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the different municipalities and cities of the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon; and some eighty-four (84) farmers form Bay and Los Baños, Laguna completed the said training.
Mr. Angelo Jhon Aquino, AEW from Infanta, Quezon, emerged as the Season-Long TOT GAP Batch 2017 valedictorian. He mentioned that the training gave him a learning experience, especially during FFS. “Sa sumunod nating FFS sites, nasabi ko kahit pangit o masama ang ating tanim ang mahalaga may natutunan tayo para po sa susunod na taniman wag po tayo matatakot na sumubok ulit dahil doon po sa pagkakamali, doon po tayo matututo” he shared.
The training was overall supervised by ATI IV-A Center Director Ms. Marites Piamonte Cosico and Training Specialist III, Mr. Romeo Rodil. Ms. Vira Elyssa Jamolin served as Project Officer along with Ms. Lucina Diwa as Training Support staff.

The 16-weeks SL TOT on GAP for FV was held at Arisabel Clubhouse Resort from April 24, 2017 to August 31, 2017. Meanwhile, the FFS on GAP commenced on May 12, 2017 and simultaneously conducted at four sites in Bay and Los Baños, Laguna, specifically: Brgy. Anos and Brgy. Tranca, Los Baños, Laguna; and Brgy. Pinac Maitim and Brgy. Tranca, Bay, Laguna.

The graduation was held on September 1, 2017 at Splash Mountain Resort, Los Baños, Laguna.