BAYBAY, CITY, Leyte-ATI-RTC 8 conducted a five-day blended Training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on Rice Production on August 19–25, 2026, equipping 29 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from different local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas with practical knowledge and skills on safe, quality, and sustainable rice production.
The training was conducted virtually through Google Meet on August 19–21, 2026, followed by face-to-face sessions at ATI-RTC 8 on August 24–25, 2026.
The training focused on the principles and requirements of GAP, particularly practices that ensure rice quality, while protecting the environment and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of farm workers.
As frontline workers in agricultural extension, the AEWs play an important role in helping farmers understand and adopt GAP. Through the training, they were equipped to guide farmers in addressing concerns on productivity, food safety, environmental protection, and market competitiveness while gradually aligning farm practices with established standards.
During the virtual sessions, participants learned about the roadmap of the rice industry, introduction to Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP), types of hazards, and the Code of GAP for Rice Production and its recommended practices. Discussions also covered proper pesticide handling and waste disposal, workers’ health and safety, farm management and recordkeeping, traceability, staff records and training, GAP certification guidelines, process, and inspection.
The face-to-face sessions gave participants the opportunity to put their learning into practice through a mock GAP assessment in Ormoc City, Leyte. The participants assessed five farms that belong to different farmer associations and examined their practices in compliance with GAP certification requirements.
The group also visited and benchmarked two GAP-certified farms and the ATI-RTC 8 Learning Sites for Agriculture in Baybay City—Mazo Farm and Chandria Integrated Farm. The visits allowed the participants to see how GAP principles are applied in actual farm operations and provided practical examples that they can share with farmers in their respective areas.
On the final day, participants consolidated and presented the results of their mock assessments. The activity also provided an opportunity for them to reflect on the challenges they encountered during the farm visits and discuss how the lessons from the training can be applied in their own extension work.
For Ms. Maria Mara Picorro of Catbalogan City, the training reinforced the importance of putting knowledge into practice.
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this PhilGAP training. Although I already had some background from my studies, I learned that knowledge alone is not enough. We need to apply what we learn in actual farm practices.”
She also highlighted the importance of safe farming practices, particularly in handling agricultural chemicals.
“The training taught me the importance of proper farming practices, especially in the safe use of chemicals, to protect both our crops and farm workers. More than getting a certificate, I believe the real value of this training is putting our knowledge into practice in the field.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Jerome Arcite of LGU-Matag-ob shared that the training helped him see GAP beyond production alone.
“I learned that Good Agricultural Practices are based on the principles of quality, safety, and sustainability. I also learned that complying with GAP requires following certain requirements and standards.”
For Arcite, GAP also means looking after the people and environment involved in food production.
“The food we eat is not only about production. The environment, farmers, and workers are also important considerations. GAP helps ensure that farms follow proper practices while protecting people, the environment, and the quality of agricultural products.”
With the knowledge and hands-on experience gained from the training, the participating AEWs are expected to bring GAP principles closer to rice farmers in their respective communities and help promote safer, more responsible, and sustainable rice production practices across Eastern Visayas.
