Farmers complete climate smart field school

Mayor Edward C. Codilla hands a certificate to a
participant who completed the five-month Climate
Smart Farmers' Field School. Others in photo are
(from right) Vilma Patindol, director of Agriculture
Training Institute Regional Training Center-8; Deserie
Joy Orence of Rice Watch and Action Network; and
City Agriculture Officer Joey Cortez.
(Photo by Anthony Rosales)

NON-government organization Rice Watch and Action Network conducted a culmination program for its Climate resilient Farmer School/Climate Smart-Farmers’ Field School (CrFS/CS-FFS) on rice, vegetable and corn. The CrFS/CS-FFS is a non-traditional learning program to increase farmers’ awareness towards the environment especially those related to farming and weather.

A total of 66 farmers from Sabang Bao, Margen and Dayhagan completed the season-long (five months) course that included lectures and hands-on demonstration in their own farms. The lectures taught the farmers to be resilient so that despite the weather changes, they can still adapt and continue to earn income from farming.

During the weekly sessions, farmers learned various ways of sustainable farming that is appropriate to their areas and adaptable to the changing climate. Some of the topics discussed are:

· weather/climate and cropping calendar adjustments,

· system of rice intensification to save on water and seeds costs,

· organic-based soil fertility measures so that farmers don’t need to buy fossil-based fertilizers,

· climate-related risk management through farm diversification such as organic vegetables, organic livestock, root crops and other sustainable crops that would give additional income to farmers, among others.