To strengthen their capacity to effectively guide and manage the farmer organizations they serve, Community Development Officers (CDOs) of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) MIMAROPA underwent a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Integrated Pest Management on Lowland Vegetable Production held on September 14 and 15, 2026 in Odiongan, Romblon.
Organized through the initiative of the Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) Cluster of DA-SAAD MIMAROPA, the training equipped CDOs with practical knowledge and skills in addressing pests and diseases affecting vegetable crops and the appropriate measures to prevent and manage them.
Jomari J. Abdon, Agriculturist I, and Zachary Owen B. Abutan, Administrative Assistant IV, of the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC)-MIMAROPA served as resource speakers. The training focused on the identification of common pests and diseases affecting vegetable crops, as well as appropriate preventive and control measures to minimize crop damage and maintain production quality.
As part of the training, the participants conducted a field-based pest identification activity at the vegetable farm of the Tubigon Vegetable Growers Association in Brgy. Tubigon, Ferrol.
Guided by the RCPC-MIMAROPA personnel, the CDOs inspected the vegetable crops, identified pests and other organisms causing damage, evaluated their effects on the plants, and determined appropriate management measures. The activity also provided the participants with an opportunity to apply IPM principles in an actual production setting.
For Palawan-based CDO II Vilmar Robes, the training will help them provide more appropriate technical guidance to farmers, particularly those engaged in vegetable production.
“Thank you po sa SAAD dahil nagkaroon po ng ganitong training para sa amin para mas maiparating din namin sa farmers ‘yong dapat na angkop na pamamaraan para mas maging productive ang kanilang projects pagdating sa paggugulayan,” said Robes.
[Thank you to SAAD for organizing this training for us, so that we can also share with the farmers the appropriate methods to make their vegetable production projects more productive.]
“Makakaasa po kayo na since ToT ito, sisiguruhin namin nakami naman ang magte-train sa mga farmers,” he added.
[You can be assured that since this is a ToT, we will make sure that we, in turn, will train the farmers.]
The training is part of the DA-SAAD MIMAROPA’s efforts to equip its personnel with technical knowledge that they can share with farmer organizations. The initiative is expected to contribute to improved vegetable production, reduced crop losses, and better quality of farm produce among SAAD beneficiaries.
