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)
