120 ARBS complete farmer field school in Saranggani

COTABATO CITY -A total of 120 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) underwent a season-long Farmer Field School (FFS) in the Municipalities of Maasim and Malungon in Sarangani Province. The FFS, as one of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR’s) support services strategies, trains the farmers on various farm production methods. Specifically, FFS is geared to help the farmers understand the relationship of crop with soil nutrients and its interaction with pest and natural enemies. With this, the farmers received Certificates of Course Completion on Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Among the successful ARBs who completed the course were members of Agrarian Reform Organizations (ARBOs) of the Municipality of Maasim namely Kablacan Upland Farmers Association (KUFA) of SitioLebe, Kablacan and Blat Farmers Association (BFA) of Sitio Blat, Amsipit and DatalBila People’s Organization (DABIPO) of the Municipality of Malungon. The farmers underwent training on IPM - Vegetable Production, and IPM - Corn Production. Both courses provided substantial lecture-discussion and practicum packed with subsidized inputs. The FFS as a convergence approach of the DAR and the Department of Agriculture (DA) has been an effective vehicle for technology promotion and extension. The season long course intends to enable the farmers to become IPM advocates in their own areas”, said Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I (PARPO I) Maristela O. Olegario. Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD) Chief John H. Gamad said, The skills and knowledge that the farmers acquired would hone their capacity for better farm productivity and profitability, thus increasing the income of the farmers.” With their knowledge, the farmers would be able to manage pest and disease in their farms without the usual application of expensive chemicals, thus reducing farm inputs and increasing profitability”, Gamad added. During the commencement exercises, Mr. CamiloMontefalcon, the Provincial Integrated Pest Management Coordinator encouraged the graduates to use their knowledge in order to change lives. He stressed that by applying the knowledge and skills, they are protecting their lives, their produce and their environment. Sara DianonNonggod, the awarded Best in the Examination shared that before the FFS was conducted in their barangay, they encountered several cropping failures due to lack of knowledge on farming. With the systematic techniques and procedures on farming taught in FFS, they know better now how to boost their crops’ productivity and how to increase their income.