Sixteen weeks (16) of learning together, doing things to enhance their technical know-how in planting corn with the help of the assigned agricultural extension workers in their area, 30 farmer-graduates completed the season long Farmer Field School cum Participatory Technology Development on the Management of Fall Armyworm on March 29, 2023 at Brgy. Pangpang, San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

In a field day and graduation ceremonies, the 30 farmer-graduates received their Certificate of Completion from the DA headed by Regional Crop Protection Center’s (RCPC) Chief Marivic Gambala and Regional Integrated Pest Management’s Coordinator, Mr. Aries Magat together with Ms. Estrellita Jacaban, San Carlos City Agriculturist.

Graced by no less than San Carlos City Mayor, Julier Resuello, the farmer-graduates were encouraged to apply the learnings they have acquired from the training to enable them to increase their production and income in corn.

Assuring once more of the LGUs support and commitment towards improving the implementation of programs and projects under the agriculture sector in San Carlos, Mayor Resuello pledged his support in the provision of improved farm machineries and equipment to the farmers to improve their productivity and make them become more competitive in corn production.

Ms. Estrellita Jacaban, City Agriculturist of San Carlos shared the same insights with Mayor Resuello as she encouraged the farmer-graduates to be more pro-active in all the activities of the City Agriculture Office especially on projects such as the FFS-training for farmers.

Noting the benefits that the farmers could have acquired especially in reducing their production costs upon learning the effectiveness of bio-control agents in controlling corn pests in their farm, Ms. Jacaban called on the farmer-graduates to continue applying what they have learned and share it as well to their fellow farmers.

To sustain the usage of bio-control agents in their farm, the DA through the RCPC provided various bio-control agents for the farmer-graduates such as trichogramma evanescens, beauveria bassiana and earwigs which they may use in their farm to control fall armyworm and other corn insects in their area.

The FFS-PTD project is an activity of the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization in partnership with the Local Government Unit of San Carlos City, Pangasinan.##