Itbayat, Batanes - The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) recently conducted a 3-day Training Course on Garlic Informal Seed System and Market Linkage for 30 farmer-leaders in Itbayat, Batanes, on April 16-18, 2024.

The ATI-RTC 02 and High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 02 (DA-RFO 02), together with experts from the Bureau of Plant Industry National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS 2), Mariano Marcos State University, the Provincial Government of Batanes (PLGU Batanes), the Local Government Unit of Itbayat (MLGU Itbayat), and PAYOGA KAPATAGAN Multipurpose Cooperative (PAYOGA KAPATAGAN MPC) worked on this initiative.

The goal of the training course was to boost the participants’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to improve the quality of garlic planting materials and enable efficient market connections. The province of Batanes produces a large number of white variety and it is considered the strongest tasting organic garlic.

Thus, the training assisted the 30 farmers in improving garlic production and post-harvest operations, practicing and implementing seed testing protocols, demonstrating seed sampling and preparation, implementing appropriate cultural practices, and creating actionable plans.

Mr. Ansbert Salengua, president and farmer-leader of Itbayat, Batanes said, “I have learned a lot. Thank you for your support to the farmers and for generating training for us that we can be used in the near future.  I am also hoping to my fellow participants that we will apply what we have learned in this seminar.”