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Crops are on display at a learning site in Isabela province during a training for the implementers of the ECS FFS program manual. Photo provided by BSWM
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The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center in Region 2 (ATI-RTC 2) hosted the PhilCCAP Training for Implementers and Subject Matter Specialists on the Enhanced Climate-Smart Farmers' Field School (ECSFFS) Program Manual
The ECSFFS Program Manual was the result of a series of writeshops from different agencies, which was finalized by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM).
The training was conducted for five days on October 27-31, 2014, with the aim of guiding the users and trainors on how to properly deliver information about climate change and adaptation to farmers. It was attended by 41 participants from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, ATI, Department of Agriculture (DA)-Central Office, DA-Regional Field Offices 2 and 6, DENR, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the LGUs of Peñablanca and Tuguegarao City for Region 2 and of Janiuay, Mina, Dumangas and Pototan for Region 6.
Part of the training was a field visit to the school for practical agriculture (SPA) learning sites in Cabatuan and San Mateo, Isabela to expose the participants and help them gain actual experiences on how integrated farming system is established. Participants also went to one of the pilot sites of PhilCCAP in Barangay Aggugaddan, Peñablanca, Cagayan for them to observe and interact with PhilCCAP’s farmer-beneficiaries.
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A farmer in Iloilo, applying the techniques learned from the Enhanced Climate-Smart Farmers' Field School (ECSFFS), shows her produce. Photo provided by ATI
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Participants of the training said that they appreciated the implementation of PhilCCAP‘s subprojects and the establishment of a learning hut with a functional learning center, an integrated farm, and a provision of starter inputs for the ECS FFS farmer-participants. Attendees from Region 6 also said that they wanted to replicate the learning site in their areas.
Among the topics discussed during the training were the content of the program manual and the decision support system developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), which will be disseminated to the farmers. Center Director Renato Maguigad of the regional ATI said that the program manual was the output of the series of ECS FFS conducted during the implementation of PhilCCAP. This a deliverable under Subcomponent 2.2 of the Project on Enhancing Delivery and Effectiveness of Extension Services for Farm-Level Climate Risk Management, for which the DA, BSWM and the ATI are primarily responsible.