BALER, AURORA – The Department of Agriculture – Rice Program conducted a two-day training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Soil Health Restoration for Rice Commodity to broaden the knowledge and educate the farmers in the systematic and holistic approach of addressing soil health to ensure sustainable use and management of soil resources held on March 17-18, 2022 at the Akkaw, Hometel.
Local Farmer Technicians (LFTs), Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), Planning Officer from IPLAN Component of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist participated in the activity.
The training was facilitated by Regional Soils Laboratory Chemist Justine Estabillo with Noemi Guinto and Roel R. Rubion of the GAP Certification Program to guide and familiarize the participants with the proper Soil Health Restoration, process for Soil Rejuvenation, the Regulation Certification process for GAP, and Discussion and Field Demonstration for GAP for Rice.Meanwhile, Report Officer Mario Somera encouraged the attendees to actively participate and to produce GAP-certified commodities as their target output.
Rice Program Coordinator Lowell Rebillaco expressed positivity to conduct more of this training and for LFTs to lead by example and be role models as well as motivate farmers in their area.Moreover, the training aims to produce safe and good quality food promoting farmers to be GAP accredited.
To support the non PRDP funded project, Planning Officer Ma. Lourdes Maglanque of PRDP IPLAN documented and interviewed PPMIU IPLAN Head Jimmy Rosales for the commodity of Aromatic and Pigmented rice.This is to gauge the effectiveness of the PRDP approach to LGUs’ engagement with other agencies and other funding institutions.
