Department of Agriculture-Region IV arranged a 3-day training including field visits, lecture and workshop at Cortijo de Palsabangon Farm, Park & Restaurant in Pagbilao, Quezon regarding organic agriculture (OA) theories, practices and principles. The participants were agricultural teachers, education program supervisors, department heads and principals. They are from Department of Education’s (DepEd) school divisions of Quezon province.
The 23 participants learned farm operations from the cooperators including feeds formulation. Also, they toured three of ATI (Agricultural Training Institute, DA’s extension training arm) Calabarzon’s learning sites under the OA program, namely the Uma Verde Eco Nature Farm, Candelaria; Ka Mulong’s Farm, Sariaya; and Cortijo de Palsabangon Farm, Park & Restaurant, Pagbilao in Quezon province.
Representative from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist discussed the principles and practices of OA, while a guest form Southern Luzon State University, Glemechille Maestro, provided hands-on activity on preparing different concoctions.
Followed by a workshop on integrating Organic Agriculture (OA) Curriculum on K-12. The OA Integration for K – 12 curricula is pursuant to Republic Act 10068, otherwise known as “Organic Agriculture Act of the Philippines of 2010,” an Act providing for the development and promotion of organic agriculture in the Philippines and for other purposes.
This was all part of the vision of the DA-ATI, which is to expand its partnership. They believed that the DepEd engagement was a great opportunity and channel in delivering extension services especially pertaining the sustainable agriculture.