INAFEC, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte- This activity was implemented by Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center (INAFEC) supported by the Institute on June 2-4, 2025. This initiative benefited 31 farmers from Sarrat, Batac City, San Nicolas, and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The knowledge, skills, and values imparted focused on growing fruits and vegetables highlighting the principles of GAP which will serve as their reference to produce safer food, meet market requirements, and increase their farm income.
Further, the group underwent practicum at Acosta’s Farm owned by Mr. Nestor Acosta in Brgy. Buyon, Baccara, Ilocos Norte. The GAP practices, risks assessment, identify pests and diseases, and prepare plans to improve their farming methods were observed and performed. The activity was guided by our accredited technical experts from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Ilocos Norte and DA-Regional Field Office 1, Regulatory Division.
During the culmination, one of the farmer beneficiaries, Mr. Leiver Jay S. Macatumbay expressed his learnings and insight – “ Through this GAP Training, I learned the principles on producing safe, high quality produce while protecting the environment and ensuring workers health and safety. The training is very timely and relevant because a lot of us are not aware of this GAP. We look forward to practice, be included to the masterlist of GAP accredited in Region 1 and help the industry promote safe and sustainable farming practices”.
The Institute and INAFEC wished sustainability of GAP among the farms in the Province through the trained farmer. Hence the conduct of monitoring and evaluation of the five (5) action plans submitted will be imposed as agreed by the farmer beneficiaries from Sarrat, Laoag City, Batac City, and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte as part of their commitment in six months to one year time.
