A total of 25 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) in the province of Occidental Mindoro successfully graduated from the “Training on Onion Production with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)” held at Season’s Hotel and Convention Center, Brgy. San Roque, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

The training equipped the participants with technologies and best practices from planting; care and maintenance; harvesting and post-harvest production of onion.

Following the principles of GAP, the concepts of Integrated Pest Management specifically on the use of botanical sprays and bio-control agents to control the pests of onion were discussed during the activity. The participants were also given tips on how to identify a virus-infected worm that can be used in controlling insect pests in the field.

As part of their hands-on activities, the participants were given time to do fieldwork on pest and disease identification in the GAP onion farm in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. During the field tour, the AEWs gained a deeper understanding of GAP and they were motivated to convince onion farmers to apply its principles in onion farming.

Dr. Bonifacio F. Cayabyab served as a Resource Speaker for the said four-day training.

It was facilitated by the ATI-MiMaRoPa High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) headed by HVCDP Point Person Engr. Cheri Dawn F. Falogme.