PLARIDEL, Quezon - Recognizing the need to empower and capacitate community-based organic producers to adhere to standards of organic agriculture and be locally and globally competitive in the market, the Agricultural Training Institute – Region IV-A conducted the Training on Internal Control System (ICS) for Smallholder Group on July 2 - 5, 2019 at Brgy. M.L. Tumagay in this municipality. The four-day training was participated by 30 active organic practitioners from various barangays of Plaridel, Quezon.

Dr. Rafael S. Barroso, an Organic Agriculture Consultant, served as the resource speaker during the activity. Participants were taught on the guidelines as well as the requirements for the installation of ICS in their locality. Aside from lecture discussion, hands on workshop on practical farm inspection at Mr. Joey Alvarez farm, a local farmer technician in the said municipality was also part of the activity. Dir. Lucia A. Campomanes, the Regional OA Focal Person of Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office IV-A graced the closing ceremony and provided inspirational message to the participants.

The organic farmers association signified their intention to capacitate their members on ICS to facilitate access to group certification. The group’s vision is to become the organic capital of the province of Quezon.

Content: Soledad E. Leal