(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 27 March 2024) Easterlies affecting the eastern section of the country. Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Easterlies / Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.


Tuesday, August 3, 2021

DA, ATI, BAFS train PGS core group in Caraga

BUTUAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture (DA), together with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), is now equipping 25 organic farmer practitioners and local government units - agriculture extension workers in Caraga region through the Training of Trainers on Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).


The PGS training has two phases which started on July 26 - August 6. Its primary objective is to create a pool of experts or trainers to capacitate PGS groups on the establishment and operations of the PGS consistent with the organic agriculture standards and corresponding technical regulations and in preparation for their application and accreditation.


In the two-week training, participants will be exposed to farm sites to conduct a mock inspection and familiarized with the different key elements, features, and characteristics of the PGS.


DA Caraga Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega encouraged the participants to give their serious attention and effort for the said training to be DA’s help to empower and boost the interest of farmers to venture to the healthy culture or organic agriculture.


In 2020, the Republic Act No. 11511 the act amending RA 10068 (Organic Agriculture Act of 2010) was enacted to recognize the PGS as an alternative and complementary tool to third-party certification.


PGS plays a vital role in organic agriculture development, and farmer empowerment through active engagement to the farmers in the whole process of verification, decision-making, and marketing.


With its recognition by law, organic farmers will be able to get training and certification for their produce, without incurring heavy costs. (DA-Caraga, RAFIS/PIA-Caraga)