Bohol - On 12 and 16 March 2021, two batches of launching for the Season-Long Farmers Field School (FFS) on Vegetable Production were conducted by ATI Central Visayas. The said activities were both conducted in Cantiguib, Alburquerque, Bohol in coordination and collaboration with the Municipal Agriculture Office.

The launching was spearheaded by the Center Director of the Agricultural Training Institute-Region 7, Dr. Carolyn May O. Daquio, with support from Joemelyn Sumagang, ATI-7 HVCDP focal person. The said event was fully supported by the municipal government of Alburquerque through the leadership of Mayor Don Ritchie P. Buates.

In order for the vegetable produce to become competitive at the international market, the FFS has emphasis on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). This will lead to produce quality and safe products, both raw and processed or packaged food products

So what is FFS?
FFS also known as “School Without Walls” is described as a platform for improving decision making capacity of farming communities and stimulating local innovations for sustainable agriculture. It is a participatory approach to extension where farmers are given opportunity to make a choice in the methods of production through discovery based approach. FFS follows the learning by doing approach.

So what will be the expectations from the participants?
There are 20 vegetable farmers for each batch who have to complete 16 sessions – with four hours each session – between March to June 2021. ATI is providing all the demonstration and learning materials that they will be using for the entire course.

One of the outcomes of FFS is for our farmer-participants to be able to establish a Participatory Technology Demonstration – a practical application of theoretical learning by use of field trials from crop establishment to post harvest management.

At the end of the field school, 40 vegetable farmer-participants are expected to complete the course. They are expected to apply all their learnings in their respective farmland as well as share these learnings to family members and the community as well.