DA-10 through its Regulatory Division underscores food safety and quality agri produce through the conduct of a PhilGAP training in Bukidnon province.

 

MARAMAG, BUKIDNON – To ensure safe and quality crops from on-farm production to post-production stages, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) under the helm of Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado conducts a training for Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) certification guidelines and inspection protocols, safe handling of pesticides, and the importance of food safety on October 18-19 here.

DA-10’s Regulatory Division headed by its chief Luz I. Guzman, PhD, spearheaded the activity which was attended by over 30 farmers of Bukidnon.

The said training aims to enhance the capability of farmers to comply with the provisions of PhilGAP standards and to increase the number of GAP-certified farms in Northern Mindanao.

Guzman said that PhilGAP ensures the sustainability of farmers’ good farming practices and food supply, and capacitates the former to become productive and globally competitive.

To sum up, it addresses the need for more quality, safe, and nutritious food, which covers the responsible use of water, soil, and chemicals, which can lead to long-term sustainability for the farmers and the environment.

The topics presented were the importance of food safety, basic information and safe handling of pesticides, good agricultural practices for rice, Organic Crop Production, Postharvest, and Processing (ICS 65:020), PhilGAP certification and inspection protocol, and guidelines on the use of the PhilGAP certified mark (DC No. 12 series of 2020), which are relevant for farmers’ application process.

Serving as resource speakers for the said event were representatives from the DA-Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry, Plant Product Safety Services Division (BPI-PPSSD).

The next batch of training will be Misamis Occidental on October 25–26, this year.# (MPMT)