The ATI-RTC-CAR, in partnership with PhilRice-Isabela, successfully conducted the "Strengthening Rice Farming: Training on Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) on Rice (Batch 4)" for farmers of Tabuk City Kalinga last June 17-19, 2025. The training aimed to encourage participants to adopt and practice PhilGAP quality standards, produce safe and high-quality rice and rice-based products for the market, demonstrate effective leadership, enhance collaboration, and improve market access.
Participants actively engaged in discussions on the Code of Good Agricultural Practices for Rice, Soil Nutrient Management, and organizational strengthening. They also had the opportunity to visit and inspect a rice farm of one of the participants. During the field visit, they observed the implementation of various good agricultural practices, including storage facilities for farm inputs, pest management, post-harvest handling, and record-keeping. They also shared their observations and recommendations during the workshop.
Think of farming like building a bridge. If you use steel that's fifty years old, the bridge won't be strong. But if you use new steel made today, it will be sturdy and reliable. Farming works the same way. If we use old methods, we can't handle today's challenges like changing weather, pests, or water shortages. But if we use what they taught to us, we can produce a food that is safe and competitive to market. In short rice farming is advancing also." Ms. Francisca A. Capuyan of Tabuk Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative during the sharing of impression and insights.
The successful completion of this training marks a significant step toward empowering rice farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to implement Philippine Good Agricultural Practices. It also strengthens their capacity to produce safe, high-quality rice, improve farm management, and enhance their access to more competitive markets.// Allen D. Olat, Technical Support Staff, CDMS
