LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – Keeping up with its commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, the ATI-RTC 13 conducted another batch of training entitled Training Course on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): A Driver for Green Growth and Development, “Makabagong Paraan ng Pagsasaka para sa Makabagong Magsasaka” at Hygeia IntegraMeds Center, FDAI, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on July 8-12, 2024.

True to its tagline, the training aimed to capacitate the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and farmer-leaders to help farmers adapt their agricultural methods to the effects of climate change and eventually improve their yield.

It covered topics on the effects of Climate change on rice farming, an overview of the Palay Check System, ICT-based software in rice farming, and the Palayaman Plus and Rice Business Innovations System (RiceBIS) Community Program. Moreover, the participants learned about rice production technologies, precision agriculture, drone technology, and how to make their farm a climate-smart model farm.

The trainees spent two days and one night in four rice-based Learning Sites for Agriculture. These farms included St. Thomas Micro-Farm Learning Center in Veruela, Faith Nature Farm in Esperanza, ARM Integrated Agritourism in Bayugan City, and Seglo Integrated Farm in Trento.

The training adopted a blended learning approach, allowing the trainees to observe and participate in farm operations and develop practical skills in social mobilization. They engaged farmers to identify their problems and create solutions through Participatory Rural Appraisal. The data gathered from the homestay experience served as the basis for the trainees to craft climate-smart recommendations to address the prevailing problems on the farm and improve their farming practices.  

The recommendations were presented to the host farm owners during the last day of the training.

All in all, 33 AEWs and farmer-leaders completed the course, accredited with 12 CPD units for Agriculture and 5 five units for Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering. Batch 1 of the training was held in May, while three more batches are scheduled for July.

(with the report of Matt Janfour B. Cabahug)