The Agricultural Training Institute-Central Luzon, in partnership with Villar SIPAG Foundation, conducted the Training Course on Climate-Resilient Farm Business School in Support to Gender and Development Program on March 08-17, 2023 at Greene Manor, City of San Fernando, Pampanga and Villar Sipag Farm School, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
The said training aimed to equip the participants on different climate resilient technologies. Also, part of the module is the farming business aspect where the participants were taught on how the farmers will increase their income by treating their farm as a business.
During the opening program, ATI-CL Center Director, Dr. Joey A. Belarmino, extended his gratitude to the Villar SIPAG Foundation. “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa suporta ng Villar SIPAG Foundation dahil bukod sa implementasyon ay mayroon tayong kakampi sa legislator na kung saan sila po ang tumitingin sa pangangailangan ng agricultural development ng ating bansa,” he quipped.
As part of the training, the participants conducted a benchmarking activity in the Marsus Integrated Farm, a Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA), in San Luis, Pampanga.
Ms. Marlene Bernardino, owner of the 3-hectare integrated farm, shared some information about the farm and how it operates. She also mentioned their current partnership with the Taiwan Technical Mission and shared their strategies, techniques and technologies that they are practicing in their farm.
The group also visited Merryland Integrated Farm and Training Center Inc., an LSA, in Pulilan, Bulacan. Mr. Jian Carlo Castillo, owner, discussed their activities and farming strategies in the farm. He shared that they are doing organic fertilizer production, pesticide-free farming, and livestock raising.
"As much as possible, gusto namin na yung pagkain namin ay healthy at dito na sa farm din manggaling. Also, the CRFBS training is one the relevant training activities that I have attended," said Mr. Castillo said during his discussion.
A total of 25 farm owners from CAR, Region 1, 2, and 3 participated in the said training.
CRFBS is a regular training conducted by the ATI in collaboration with Villar SIPAG Foundation started from 2016 basically for the betterment of Filipino farmers.
