After the successful demo farming on vegetable production, local farmer-beneficiaries of the project Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD CAAM) implemented by the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) gears up for another season of agricultural works through a 2-day training on vegetable production on May 26-27, 2014 at Barangay Macabiso in Mastura, Maguindanao.

Facilitated by the key staff of BDA Central Mindanao Region, the said training aims to strengthen the knowledge and technical know-how on vegetable production of the 20 farmer beneficiary in the Sultan Mastura municipality focusing on their second cycle cropping particularly on cauliflower, lettuce and bulb onion and its pest and diseases management.

The farmer beneficiaries were equipped with the knowledge on the intensive pest and disease management, enhanced vermie culture and vermie composting, proper collection of vermie worms, substrates and bottle container for culturing and other related vegetable production technology and organic farming. The lecture proper was followed by hands-onactivity like preparation of vermie compost, collection of vermie worms and land preparation.

Resource speakers from the Upi Agriculture School (UAS) commended the farmer beneficiaries in the success of their first cycle vegetable production as reflected on the income of the harvested crops. “We are very glad to know that you were able to apply the knowledge you have gained during our training on vegetable production for your first cycle production. It will always be a great honor to us to continue sharing our expertise and experiences with your enthusiasm to learn and be successful in the realm of business, farming and agriculture” said Ms. Felicidad De Guzman, Head of Research and Extension in UAS.

In the first cycle of the project, farmer beneficiaries generated a total of Php 41, 520.00 vegetable sell from variety of vegetable crops nurtured through organic farming technology in their demo farm at Brgy. Macabiso. Aside from this, some of the farmers also earned significant amount from their own vegetable farm replicating the technology learned from the project.

The project on vegetable demonstration farm is a pilot project of the agricultural sector of the CD-CAAM project of BDA. It is part of the advocacy on the promotion of vegetable production and marketing.

CD-CAAM is implemented by the BDA with support from Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) and ICNet Limited. The project is being piloted in Sultan Mastura in Maguindanao and Matungao in Lanao del Norte.