SAN ANTONIO, Quezon – In support to the Department of Agriculture's ‘One DA’ holistic approach,” the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CALABARZON in partnership with accredited regional Extension Service Provider (ESP), MoCa Family Farm RLearning Center conducted the first batch of “Training on Drip Irrigation for Improved Crop Production” on February 1 to 5, 2021. The training is one of the Institute's strategies to attain Bayanihan Agri Clusters or Farm Clustering strategy in the region.

Specifically, the activity aims to educate and train participants with basic knowledge, needed to successfully design, install, maintain and schedule a drip irrigation scheme that improves crop production resulting in improved farm profitability and sustainability. It also targets a demonstration area where the beneficiary can showcase Drip Irrigation Technology.

The participants of the five-day collaborative extension activity are Sorok Uni Village farm families located at Barangay San Jose, San Antonio, Quezon. Managed by Ms. Marycon Billones, the Sorok Uni Village is an underserved community who have been rehabilitated from leprosy and former homeless families.

Sorok Uni Foundation is a non-profit organization that exists to empower our forgotten neighbors to help them rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient. Sorok aims to build sustainable communities for all the homeless, abandoned and forgotten individuals and families who suffer due to diseases, social stigma and lowest level of poverty.

They also have a 10-hectare integrated farm that they aim to be certified as one of the Center’s Learning Sites for Agriculture.

Director and Founder of MoCa Family Farm RLearning Center Inc. Ms. Gloria Pontejos”GIGI” Morris believs that Sorok Uni Village has big potential. “Farming as a form of rehabilitation or transition to becoming productive members of the community” she says.