By Merlito G. Edale, Jr.

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) — Sixty farmers from the Cagayan Valley Region have completed intensive training in good agricultural practices (GAP) for rice production, equipping them with updated knowledge to meet global standards and produce safer and higher-quality rice.

The training sessions, held at the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center  (ATI-RTC) in San Mateo, Isabela, were conducted in partnership with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Isabela Branch.

The participants were composed of 30 farmers from the Marasat-Grande Rice Business Innovation System Agriculture Cooperative in San Mateo, Isabela, and 30 others from the Bannawag Farmers Association in Diffun, Quirino.

“GAP is crucial for food safety and protecting consumer health,” said Vladimir B. Caliguiran, officer in charge and assistant center director of DA-ATI 2.

Caliguiran said the trainees explored a broad range of topics, including the status of the rice industry in Region 2, integrated pest management, soil sampling and analysis, and the proper use of pesticides and fertilizers.

The program also featured sessions on Republic Act 10611, or the Food Safety Act of 2013, as well as GAP concepts and certification procedures.

Experts from the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office  and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority  also shared their insights.

As part of the hands-on learning, participants took part in a mock GAP inspection at Gaboy’s Farm in San Mateo, where they practiced evaluating farms for compliance with GAP standards.

Claris Marayag-Alaska, officer in charge of ATI-2, encouraged the newly trained farmers to serve as ‘knowledge ambassadors’ by sharing their expertise with others in their communities. 

Alaska stressed the value of GAP in producing rice that is both safe and of superior quality. (ALM/MGE/PIA Isabela)

Published Date: June 2, 2025