A total of 35 participants, composed of selected farmer leaders endorsed by the Department of Agriculture – Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (DA-F2C2) Program and agricultural extension workers from highland-producing municipalities, completed the three-day “Training on Highland Vegetable Production” on May 5–7, 2026 in Taytay, Palawan.
The training aimed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and skills in highland vegetable production, focusing on improving productivity, sustainability, and the adoption of appropriate technologies suited to local farming conditions.
During the training, resource speaker Mr. Daniel L. Pockias, a teacher and farm practitioner, shared field-based insights and practical techniques in cultivating highland crops. He encouraged participants to adopt technologies and develop improved farming methods suited to their local conditions.
Hands-on activities on soil sampling, seedbed preparation, and soil analysis were conducted at the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay (AVT), one of ATI’s Learning Sites for Agriculture. AVT showcased its natural farming practices, particularly its composting method using seaweed locally known as kulapo, animal manure, and coco coir.
Cheri Dawn F. Falogme, HVCDP Point Person from ATI-MIMAROPA, also explained the principles of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). She underscored the importance of producing safe, high-quality agricultural products and encouraged participants to maintain proper documentation and accurate farm records as part of effective farm management.
The resource persons likewise discussed the requirements and process for GAP certification, and the participants expressed interest in pursuing certification for their respective farms.
To further expand learning opportunities, the training incorporated an e-learning session that guided participants on how to create accounts and enroll in online agricultural courses. Participants successfully registered for and enrolled in the available online courses.
Agricultural Technologist Teddy D. Servano, one of the participants from the Provincial Agriculture Office of Palawan, emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge gained from the training.
“Sa mga kasamahan po nating farmers, sila po talaga ang nagtatrabaho sa farm, kaya nakakakuha po tayo ng ideya sa kanila. Lagi po nating tatandaan na kung ano man po ang training na ating na-attendan ay talagang i-apply natin. Kaya na-inspire po ako. Hindi ko po alam ang iniisip nila, pero sa totoo lang napakaganda ng buhay sa pagsasaka. At kung marunong po tayong mag-apply ng ating natutunan, malaki po ang kikitain natin,” he shared.
