CEBU, Philippines - Some farmers in Cebu province recently finished the 16-week Farmer Field School on Integrated Pests Management for vegetables conducted by the Department of Agriculture in Region-7.
At least 30 of the Consolacion Farmers Association benefited from the training which started August last year.
The training aimed at enhancing and updating the skills of farmers on farming technologies such as proper sowing, proper sterilization of growing medium for the seedlings, different field trials and treatments, and pests/diseases management with emphasis on Biological Control Agents.
The FFS is a discovery-based approach where the farmers will discover, observe and analyze the agro-ecosystem of the farm, including the identification of harmful and beneficial insects.
Teodolo Along, a resident of Barangay Danglag, Consolacion, offered his 1,000 square meter land for the hands-on field demonstration. The farmers use solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, peppers which are the common crops planted in the municipality.
During the graduation, certificates of recognition were distributed and topnotch farmers who excel in the pre-test to post-test activities were given special recognition. Farmers with perfect attendance were also acknowledged.
One FFS farmer graduate Evelyn Corbo expressed her gratitude to DA for the knowledge she acquired in the FFS. Through this, she learned that there are beneficial insects considered as farmer’s friends.
DA-7 Regional Technical Director for Operations Marina Hermoso encouraged graduates to apply their learning in their actual commercial farming endeavor.
Armed with proper knowledge, Hermoso encouraged the farmer-graduates to help and re-echo their learning to fellow farmers on the adaption of right technology and practices in Integrated Pests Management.
The FFS training was a joint project of DA-7 through the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) and the local government unit of Consolacion, Cebu. (FREEMAN)