Sorsogon farmers train on organic crop production via farmers’ field school

Ninety farmer-beneficiaries in Sorsogon are now proud graduates of the Farmers’ Field School established by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in partnership with the East West Seed Philippines.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Leonito M. Gaveria said the new graduates are now certified skilled organic vegetable producers, using organic fertilizers and pesticides.
“The program does not only promote organic farming, but it will also improve the food security in the province and increase the income of farmers,” said Gaveria.
Implemented under the Agri-Enterprise Development component of Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP), the Farmers’ Field School Program is a six-month training program where organic farming and proven agricultural practices are taught to farmers.

“We don’t give our farmers with just fish. We want them to learn how to fish. Thus, after the distribution of land, we tied-up with skills providing company to teach our ARBs how to make the land productive,” Gaveria said.

After establishing the Farmers’ Field School, the DAR partnered with the East West Seed Philippines to facilitate the farmers’ training.

According to Gaveria, the farmer-participants belonging to seven Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs), experienced for the first time double harvests from the vegetable demo farms.
To celebrate the farmers’ knowledge from the field school and the success of their bountiful harvests, the DAR scheduled their graduation rites and organized a harvest festival in Juban, Irosin and Bulan, where the farmers sold their harvested organic vegetables to residents and tourists.

“This is the first time I experience to harvest vegetables from a farm. This project is truly impressive. I will make a law supporting the marketing of organic vegetables here in Bulan,” Mayor Robles said during the graduation ceremony.

Gaveria said the ARBs will greatly benefit their yield and income as long as they apply and practice what they have learned in the next cropping season. (Alura Jaso)

Photo 1: Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Leonito M. Gaveria showing off the farmers’ harvested organic sweet corn.

Photo 2: DAR-Sorsogon employees purchasing vegetables from the harvest of the farmer-graduates during the harvest festival.

Photo 3: Graduates from the farmers’ field school wave their diplomas and display their vegetable harvest during their graduation day which coincided with the harvest festival organized by the DAR.