DA7 conducts FFS on Integrated Pest Management

Thirty five (35) members of the Consolacion Farmers Association finished the 16-week season long Farmer Field School (FFS) on Integrated Pests Management (IPM) for vegetables conducted by the Department of Agriculture-7.

The training which started last August 20, 2015 aims to update and enhance the skills of the farmers on the latest farming technologies such as proper sowing, proper sterilization of growing medium for the seedlings, different field trials and treatments, and pests/diseases management with emphasis on Biological Control Agents. 

The FFS is a discovery-based approach where the farmers will discover, observe and analyze the agro-ecosystem of the farm, among which is the identification of harmful and beneficial insects.

Teodolo Along, a resident of Barangay Danglag, Consolacion, offered his 1,000 square meter land for the hands-on field demonstration. The farmers use solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, peppers which are the common crops planted in the municipality.

During the graduation, certificates of recognition were distributed and topnotch farmers who excel in the pre-test to post-test activities were given special recognition. Farmers with perfect attendance were also acknowledged.

One FFS farmer graduate Evelyn Corbo expressed her gratitude to DA for the knowledge she acquired in the FFS. Through this, she learned that there are beneficial insects considered as farmer’s friends.

Marina T. Hermoso, DA7 Regional Technical Director for Operations, encourages graduates to apply their learning in their actual commercial farming endeavor.

Armed with proper knowledge, Hermoso encouraged the farmer-graduates to help and re-echo their learning to fellow farmers on the adaption of right technology and practices in Integrated Pests Management.

The FFS training is a joint project of DA-7 through the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) and the local government unit (LGU) of Consolacion, Cebu. (Florelin Orozco/RAFIS)