Quezon Farmers' Field School soon to be launched

MANILA, Philippines - Organic farmers in the second district of Quezon province will soon a have formal training in a real classroom situation and setting with practicum in the first ever Farmers’ Field School in Quezon which will be implemented in the town of Candelaria.

The FFS is a project of Rep. Irvin M. Alcala in partnership with Candelaria, Mayor Bong Maliwanag, and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) of the Department of Agriculture. It will stress the importance of organic agriculture as a sustainable farming practice. This is also in support to the target of rice sufficiency in the year 2013.

The ATI is an agency of the Philippine government under the DA responsible for training agricultural extension workers and their clientele; conducting multi-level training programs to promote and accelerate rural development; and ensuring that research results are communicated to the farmers through appropriate training and extension activities.

The FFS classes will be a training-seminar to be held every Thursday morning for 16 weeks. These classes will be handled by the trainors of ATI. Based on Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala directed the ATI to lead in the implementation of organic agriculture extension, information, trainings and education activities in the country.

The farmers will be taught on vermin-composting, seed selection and preparation, correct planting techniques, pests and insects management and the theories the farmers will learn will be actually implemented in their respective rice fields. High grade organic registered rice will be used in the demonstration classes. Reporting in the classroom shall also be required of the trainees as part of the research activity and as a basis for evaluation. There will also be real classroom situations which will include games and other classroom teaching-learning activities.