BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – Agricultural extension workers (AEWs) and farmer leaders attended the Training of Trainers on Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture at the Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center 8 (ATI-RTC 8), Visayas State University (VSU) from March 17 to 21, 2025. The training was designed to improve their knowledge and skills in contemporary urban agriculture technologies so that they are well-prepared to lead their respective communities in adopting sustainable and efficient farming practices.
The five-day training provided the participants a comprehensive knowledge of urban gardening principles, including the importance of the Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification process. They learned different urban farming methods like hydroponics, container gardening, and edible landscaping, with particular emphasis on good quality seedlings and correct plant nursery management.
One of the highlights of training was a hands-on practicum where trainees practiced seed sowing, seedling management and production, and communal peri-urban garden establishment. In ensuring safety, trainees were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to field exercises. A workshop on the design of a 6x10m rooftop garden was also conducted for participants to apply the principles and learnings from lectures to their designs, presenting innovative and practical solutions for optimizing small urban spaces for food production.
To further enhance their learning experience, the participants also visited GAP-certified farms in Baybay City namely: Basti’s Farm, Mazo Farm, and the ACIAR GAP Project in VSU, where they were able to see best practices in action, especially in hydroponics and other innovative urban farming methods.
Mr. Dexter Rivera, a vegetable farmer from Calbayog Samar, said that he is grateful for this training because it is a huge help to his farm. “The knowledge I have gained and the new technologies I have adopted can now be applied to my vegetable garden to further improve my crops. This will also be beneficial as we can share our learnings with other farmers.” he added.
Thirteen (13) AEWs and twelve (12) farmer leaders attended the 5-day training. Notably, agriculturist participants earned 17 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, recognizing their commitment to advancing their expertise in urban agriculture.
