Jamindan farmers taught organic farming practices

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate 

Capiz State University

To promote organic farming practices among the local farmers and the surrounding rural communities, the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Jamindan, Capiz hosted the Training of Farmers on Organic Agriculture on February 22–23, 2012 at the La Paz Barangay Hall, La Paz, Jamindan, Capiz.

Led by FITS Center Manager Remedios Llamelo and Agriculturist Catalina Leonor, the capability building initiative gathered some 50 members of the La Paz Farmers Association who were taught the basic concepts in natural farming solutions and took part in the actual preparation of foliar fertilizers including oriental herbal nutrient and fish amino acid. 


Funded by the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 6 (ATI-RTC 6), which was represented by Mr. Antonio Llorente, Agriculturist II, the initiative benefited the farmers’ cooperative with members from barangays Sto. Rosario, La Paz, Caridad, Esperanza, Fe, San Jose and Jagnaya. 

Agriculturist II Antonio Llorente of the ATI (far left, top) and Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra of CapSU (far right, bottom) lead the Jamindan farmers in maximizing organic farming practices for productivity. Barangay officials and women volunteers alike took active part in the initiative led by the Jamindan FITS Center.

According to Llamelo, the lecture-demo aimed to pursue the national government's thrust on organic agriculture. To lead the actual preparation of foliar natural farming solutions, Leonor sought the leadership of three women members who previously worked as WorldVision volunteers in their barangays who guided the residents and barangay captains from said six barangays to finish their farming solutions for their farms.

Jamindan farmers participants take stock of the initiative led by the Jamindan FITS Center
and supported by the Agricultural Training Institute and the Capiz State University.

For his part, Mr. Eduardo Navarra, training coordinator and Techno Gabay Team Leader of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Services, taught the farmers on the advantages of organic farming practices, conversely campaigning against the disadvantages of conventional farming.

Among others, Navarra stressed the importance of pursuing organic agriculture in today’s farming because of how it can help reinvigorate the soil and promote good health to the community. Navarra also advocated the organic farming practices of Ramon Peñalosa, Jr., Magsasaka Siyentista of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).

SAY ORGANIC!
Participants and facilitators of the organic farming training
led by Jamindan FITS Center and  supported by ATI and CapSU.