The Kapampangan farmers who completed the Lowland Vegetable Technology Demonstration project of the Department of Agriculture Central Luzon Regional Field Office (DA-RFO 3) committed to practice and promote the technologies in their respective communities.
The DA High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) led by National Program Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban and the RFO officials recognized the 66 graduates during the project’s harvest festival and awarding ceremony in San Francisco, Lubao, Pampanga on August 11, 2022.
During the event, the farmers showcased model production areas established on a 4,000 square meter lot at the New Gen Agri-Farm Training Center, Inc. owned by farmer-cooperator Maria David.
The farmers, who started training on April 21, 2022, were supported by experts from participating seed companies, namely, Allied Botanical Corporation, East West Seed Company, Ramgo International Corporation, and Enviro Scope Synergy Incorporated.
Each seed company and farmer group developed an area of 1,000 square meters to showcase various technologies in producing pinakbet vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, bitter gourd, string beans, and squash.
“It serves as a pilot, techno-demo para makita ng mga tao na itong mga ganitong technologies ay posible at magagawa maybe in scale also. Isa itong example kung paano tayo makakapag-produce locally and supply locally. The end goal of which is to have food in the table and the possible alternative sources of livelihood,” Director Panganiban said.
He added that the partner companies featured off-season planting technologies that are advantageous to farmers.
With the right technologies that improve productivity and lessen cost, the farmers can earn P100,000 to P200,000 monthly gross income for a thousand-square meter lot planted with various vegetables.
Also in partnership with the provincial and municipal local government units (LGUs), the farmers from the different municipalities in Pampanga learned about proper land preparation, planting operation, fertilization, pest and insect management, and harvesting, among others.
The seed companies and the LGU partners also committed to continue supporting the DA’s initiatives to improve the country’s food security and the income of farmers.
“Sobrang dami kong natutunan [dito]. Ine-encourage namin [ang lahat] na magtanim kahit sa backyard lang kasi kailangan natin ngayon lalo na pandemic,” farmer-trainee Jonathan Tayag of Floridablanca said. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
