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The
participation of a PCARRD director to the international training
program on “Organic agriculture development,” sponsored
by the Swedish International Development Cooperation, has boosted
the Council’s program on organic agriculture.
Dr.
Digna O. Manzanilla, the Council’s director for Agricultural
Resources Management Research Division (ARMRD), found the training
“very useful in PCARRD’s program on promoting organic
agriculture in the country.”
The
training course covered topics such as concepts, application, and
benefits of organic agriculture; standards, certification, and regulation
of organic agriculture; extension and institutional support structures;
market development for organic products; policy and gender issues;
and project planning, design, and implementation.
These
subjects were tackled through seminar lectures, small group discussions,
sharing of experiences, and study visits to organic farms.
Before
going to Sunne, Sweden, for the three-week training last year, participants
had to collect data and information on the country status of organic
agriculture and prepare development plans for their respective countries.
After
their course in Sweden, the participants, with advisory support
from the training hosts, had to do a feasibility assessment of their
draft development plans. To firm up the plans, a follow-up course
was held in Thailand on February 6–21, 2006.
Manzanilla’s
development plan was integrated into PCARRD’s program on organic
agriculture, which includes an investment plan for organic fertilizer
production that hopes to facilitate the commercialization of improved
technologies. The project plan will soon be implemented in Regions
3 and 4.
Other
ongoing activities include research proposal packaging; information,
education, and communication materials development; Web-based information
system development called PhilOrganic; capacity building through
trainings and technical assistance; and support to related policies
and advocacies. (Ofelia F. Domingo, S&T Media Service)
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