OIC-Director of Agricultural Training Institute Luz A. Taposok addresses the 742 graduates of the Farmers' Field School on Sustainable Pig Farming on June 13, 2018 at the Cultural Center of Laguna, Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
STA. CRUZ, Laguna - ATI Officer-in-Charge Director Luz A. Taposok challenged the 742 graduates of the Farmers' Field School (FFS) on Sustainable Pig Farming (SPF) during its mass graduation on June 13, 2018.
Taposok highlighted that the graduates are role models in their communities, with the mission to apply what they have learned and share it for the benefit of other farmers.
"Dahil sa interes ninyong matuto at masigasig na pagtuklas ng bagong kaalaman kaya nag-e-exist ang programang ito. Kayo ang partner ng ATI at ng DA" she added.
For 20 weeks, swine farmers attended a weekly session of the FFS to learn the scientific and more sustainable approach to pig farming. The SPF follows the pattern of natural farming in which animal production would receive the least or no synthetic products in terms of feed and medication.
"[Dahil sa FFS-SPF], nabuksan ang aming mata, at nabuksan ang aming kaisipan kung paano alagaan ang kalusugan ng mga tao at maging concern tayo sa ating kapaligiran." shares Vicenta Morandante, one of the graduates of the seven-month program from Calatagan, Batangas.
The Agricultural Training Institute Region IV-A launched the program in November 2017, in collaboration with Provincial Veterinary Offices in the region. Ms. Marites Piamonte-Cosico, Center Director of ATI IV-A in her synthesis looked back on how the project came about.
According to CD Cosico, it started in 2013 in selected municipalities in Laguna, particularly Nagcarlan, Majayjay, and Magdalena. The training produced positive results which eventually led to the conduct of a Training of Trainers (ToT) for Agricultural Technologists who would re-echo and teach the process to swine farmers in their respective communities.
Armed with the knowledge and skills on SPF, complemented with five weanlings per FFS site (granted by ATI IV-A and DA RFO IV-A), the graduates of the program are expected to improve their production in their areas.
The FFS-SPF Mass Graduation ceremony was participated by 23 municipalities in CaLaBaRZon together with Municipal Agriculturists and Facilitators, and Local Chief Executives. Additionally, DA RFO IV-A Regional Executive Director, Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa and National Livestock Focal Person, Dr. Ruth Miclat-Sonaco shared the programs of the Department and Institute on livestock in their messages.