To make way for a food safe and good quality coconut products, ATI-RTC 02 pushed through Training of Trainers (TOT) on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Coconut last May 22-26, 2023 at Cagayan State University, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.
Twenty farmer-Leaders and Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) attended the training who were identified and accredited by the Philippine Coconut Authority. These stakeholders will form part of the new pool of trainers who are equipped with the right knowledge and skills on GAP.
โSa training na ito hindi ko naramdaman ang [pagkakaiba ng] may pinag-aralan sa hindi nakapag aral. Grade 5 lang ang natapos ko at nagpapasalamat ako dahil naimbitahan ako sa training na ito, itoโy dagdag kaalaman para sa amin,โ said Teofilo Campos, coconut farmers from Pamplona, Cagayan.
The 5-day training highlighted lectures and discussions on the production practices based on Philippine National Standards on Good Agricultural Practices for Coconut and group workshops that enhanced their skills on Planning and Developing a detailed Production Site Map.
Dir. Flor Olivar, PCA Luzon Cluster Coconut Farmers Representative, and PCA Regional Manager Dennis D. Andres gave their inspirational messages to the participants. They stressed that โthe Coconut Industry in the region shall be developed into a competitive commodity through CFIDP.โ
The participants have demonstrated the knowledge and skills acquired during lectures from farm lay-out, planting, fertilizing coconuts, and GAP mock inspection through a couple of hands-on activities. On the last day, the participants presented their action plan as part of their commitment and support in the implementation of the CFIDP activities for farmer-level trainings.
