Members of the Peer Review Committee conduct a mock peer review in the farm of an OFPRAB member
Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. A batch of organic farmer-practitioners from Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, the Organic Farmer-Practitioners Association of Bayawan City (OFPRAB), completed a training on the Certified Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Group Towards Accreditation as Organic Certifying Bodies (OCB) on June 12 – 16, 2023 at Julsams Pension House and Function Hall in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. OFPRAB is the first in Central Visayas to be certified as OCB. The training aimed to enhance the participants' skills and knowledge on developing internal standards and manuals of operation, the requirements and procedures for accreditation, and the conduct of peer review and certification protocols.
The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is an alternative approach to organic certification that involves the active participation of local stakeholders in the verification process. It is a grassroots system that enables farmers to certify each other’s produce as organic based on defined standards agreed upon by the community. This helps to ensure that organic agriculture is accessible to small-scale farmers who may have difficulty meeting the requirements of conventional certification
The training was attended by 20 members of the OFPRAB. The participants praised the training program, calling it informative and well-organized. They appreciated the comprehensive coverage of important topics, which they believed would be crucial to their success in operating the OFPRAB PGS as an OCB. The participants also commended the food served during the training and the venue, which was quiet and conducive to learning.
The co-participants were well-versed and participative, making the training engaging and interactive. The resource persons were knowledgeable and able to clarify difficult topics with ease. The Training Management Team (TMT) was also praised for being approachable, amiable, and helping the participants in all the activities. The participants were thankful for the support and training capability provided by the DA RFO 7 and ATI RTC 7.
In conclusion, the training program was highly successful in enhancing the skills and knowledge of the OFPRAB members in the PGS system. With this training, the OFPRAB will be better equipped to operate as an OCB and provide certification services to organic farmers in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental. Overall, the training on the Certified PGS Group Towards Accreditation as OCB is a step in the right direction towards ensuring that small-scale farmers have access to organic certification. The PGS system is a valuable tool that promotes community, transparency, and integrity in the organic supply chain. It has the potential to improve the livelihoods of countless farmers and to promote sustainable agricultural practices for the benefit of all.
