Agri-10 through its Regulatory Division pushes for more NorMin farms to be PhilGAP-certified.

 

DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) staged a training on the Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) Certification and Inspection Protocol on July 17 to 18, at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Spearheaded by its Regulatory Division and conducted in partnership with the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (DA-FPA), the training apprised farmers and various agricultural stakeholders from the province of Bukidnon of key information on GAP standards, and the technical requirements to apply for a PhilGAP certification.

This, aligned with DA’s aim of increasing the number of GAP-certified farms in Northern Mindanao, thereby ensuring the continuous production of safe and quality agricultural produce in the region.

On behalf of DA-10 Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, Provincial Operations Center – Bukidnon chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM welcomed the participants and said that the training forms part of the agency’s thrust for increased agricultural productivity in the region, while retaining its assurance of safe, high quality, and nutritious food for consumers within and beyond Northern Mindanao.

During the training, Roxette Ann D. Quindala from the DA-BPI Plant Product Safety Services Division (BPI-PPSSD) educated the farmers on the general hygienic practices for production and processing of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those grown in hydroponic systems or greenhouses, as outlined in the Philippine National Standard GAP for Fruits and Vegetable Farming – Code of Practice.

Underscoring the PhilGAP standards as a mechanism to ensure the safe and sustainable production of agricultural produce, the BPI-PPSSD also discussed the four modules of the PhilGAP certification program, namely: food safety, environmental management, workers’ welfare, and quality produce.

Meanwhile, Romnick N. Boctot of the FPA also discussed the proper handling of fertilizers and pesticides.

Further expounding on PhilGAP certification guidelines, Chamberlie Gay M. Regis, Agriculturist II of the DA-10 Regulatory Division, also discussed the guidelines of the Use of the PhilGAP Certified Mark as stipulated in Department Circular No. 12, Series of 2020.

Capping off the two-day training, Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Cora A. Dumayaca enjoined the participants to make use of their knowledge gained from the sessions to innovate on their existing farm practices, such that they comply with GAP standards.

RTD Dumayaca also led the turnover of PhilGAP Certification to Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI), received by Compliance Manager Maria Sheila D. Guiret and Compliance Supervisor Federico Banaga, Jr.

Joining farmers in the two-day training were representatives from various agri organizations, namely: Dole Philippines, Inc. (Stanfilco Division), DMPI, Greenproduce Farms, Sweetbee Farms, Agrinanas Development Co., Inc., and the PhilGAP Farmers Association in Bukidnon.

The event also drew the support of concerned DA-10 operating units such as the Field Operations Division through its chief Luz I. Guzman, PhD, and the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division through Assistant division chief Ferdinand F. Caraballe.# (GDA/Photos supplied)