The Agricultural Training Institute – Central Luzon (ATI-CL), in partnership with University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the Municipal Agriculture Office of Abucay, successfully concluded the Refresher Course for Farmers-Scientists Training Program (FSTP) Phase III on May 8, 2026 in Abucay, Bataan.
Twenty farmers from the Salian Integrated Farmers Association (SIFA) in Brgy. Salian completed the three-day training course, which began on May 6. The activity aimed to strengthen the participants’ knowledge and skills and prepare them to conduct barangay-level trainings for fellow farmers in their communities.
In her opening message, Babelyn P. Lopez, Training Specialist II of ATI-CL, emphasized the importance of the training in improving the lives of farmers and highlighted the responsibility of participants as future “farmer-scientists” who can share their learnings with other farmers.
This was followed by a discussion on the background and objectives of the FSTP led by Dr. Romulo G. Davide, FSTP Leaders from UPLB.
During the afternoon session, Anecito Anuada, University Researcher II of UPLB, together with Jay Mark Ian Caindoy, University Research Associate II, and John Christopher Bungar, University Research Associate I, facilitated mentoring sessions by dividing the participants into three groups for topic discussions and workshops.
As part of the second-day activities, the farmers prepared and presented assigned lessons based on their groupings to further develop their confidence and skills in teaching and information dissemination, preparing them to become effective “farmer-scientists” in their respective municipalities.
One of the participants, Rodel Baino, expressed his appreciation for the training, “Sa loob ng tatlong araw na refresher course na ito, ay nagbalik sa aming alaala ang lahat ng aming natutunan mula Phase I hanggang Phase II. Mula sa land preparation, pagsasagawa ng IPM, kung papaano ang tamang paggamit ng soil test kit (STK), at ang pagkuha sa computation ng pataba na kinakailangan kada isang ektarya.”
At the end of the activity, all 20 SIFA farmers successfully completed the training, marking another milestone in ATI-CL’s continuing efforts to strengthen farmer-led agricultural extension initiatives in Central Luzon.
Written by: Neil Mcwyane A. Diwa
