Climate Resilient Farmer’s Field School (CRFFS): Leveraging Adaptable Technologies in Corn Farming

Corn is a significant part of the Philippines' agricultural environment, providing a staple crop and a key source of income for millions of Filipino farm households. As the country's second most valuable commodity after rice, corn is grown in many places, supplying nourishment, livestock feed, and revenue to growth areas. Corn farming is prevalent throughout the country, especially in highland and rain-fed areas, demonstrating its importance in the agricultural economy and supporting the livelihoods of farmers who rely on it.

Despite the value it brings, corn growers suffer some difficulties that limit their output and subsistence. One of the most serious problems is being susceptible to severe weather circumstances, especially given the increasing threat of climate change. Floods, droughts, and unexpected rainfall patterns all have an enormous effect on maize harvests, putting small-scale cultivators in danger of financial insecurity.

Recognizing the vital role of corn in improving rural lives, the Philippine government has undertaken several initiatives to increase corn production. Farmers are being taught climate-resilient farming practices through programs run by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to assist them in adapting to changing environmental conditions.

In support of this and following the successful signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CALABARZON, led by the Training Center Superintendent II, Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, and the USAID Climate Resilient Cities Project (CRC) through Conservation International-Philippines last April 22, 2024, the Climate Resilient Farmer’s Field School (CRFFS) for Corn was officially inaugurated in Batangas Country Club, Batangas City, last August 2, 2024.

This program aims to strengthen the integration of agriculture development and climate receptiveness as well as ensure food safety and broader targets for development in the face of a shifting climate and rising demand for food. The program provides assistance to the City Government of Batangas in attaining climate-resilient corn production in which farmers and Local Government Unit (LGU) leaders reinforce their technical and scientific competencies in growing corn and other crops using suitable technologies for agriculture.

Dr. Maningas, Mr. Michael Lalap, OIC-APCO of Batangas; Ms. Flora C. Alvarez, Batangas City Agriculturist; and Mr. Wilbur G. Dee, Natural Climate Solutions Director of Conservation International Philippines expressed their gratitude and support to the program during its inauguration.

The CRFFS spans 18 weeks and benefits 30 farmers of the Batangas City Corn Growers Association (BCCGA). Still part of the CRFFS is the farmer's field day which will take place in late October, with a culminating activity scheduled on the second week of November.

Ensuring the proper implementation of the program, Dr. Maningas conducted field monitoring at Brgy. Soro-Soro Ilaya, Batangas City, last September 26, 2024, to assess the progress and effectiveness of the training program, as well as to provide farmers with immediate recommendations based on the assessments, allowing them to enhance strategies to maximize crop performance.

Corn is more than just a crop, it represents a lifeline for many agricultural households throughout the region. To fully realize its potential, farmers must have continuous assistance, particularly in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change.

DA-ATI CALABARZON encourages the confluence of diverse approaches that can enable corn farming to prosper, sustaining the lives of many Filipino families and making an impact on the region's food stability.