In a groundbreaking initiative, the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) collaborated with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to host a series of Farmers’ Field Days aimed at promoting Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) for key vegetable crops. This pioneering endeavor occurred under the Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) project.

On January 23, 2024, the first event unfolded in the picturesque Dolores barangay in Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija. Mr. Aurelio Rodriguez graciously hosted the field day on his demonstration farm, attracting a diverse crowd of 111 participants, including 108 farmers and three representatives from the Local Government Unit. The gathering, comprising 71 males and 40 females, delved into the nuances of GAP for eggplant cultivation.

Continuing this innovative agricultural outreach, the second Farmers’ Field Day centered on Good Agronomic Practices for yard-long beans on January 24, 2024 (forenoon). This time, Mr. Rene Luneta’s demonstration farm in Maronguillo barangay, San Rafael, Bulacan, served as the vibrant backdrop for the event. A total of 50 participants, 44 males, and six females, explored the intricacies of sustainable yard-long bean cultivation.

The afternoon of the same day saw the third Farmers’ Field Day unfold on the grounds of Mr. Mark Anthony Carillo’s demonstration farm in Sapang Dayap barangay, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Focused on Good Agronomic Practices for Bitter Gourd, the event drew 74 participants, consisting of 72 farmers and two representatives from the Local Government Unit. The gender-diverse gathering, with 47 males and 27 females, engaged in insightful discussions on optimizing bitter gourd production.

Ms. Mary Anne Guerrero from the BPI graced the event in Dolores, providing enlightening opening remarks. Dr. Srinivasan Ramasamy, Flagship Program Leader for Safe and Sustainable Value Chains at WorldVeg, played a pivotal role by attending all locations and shedding light on WorldVeg’s impactful initiatives in safe and sustainable vegetable production across Asia and Africa. Dr. Filomena Sta. Cruz from UPLB presented the FRESH project in the Philippines, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize year-round vegetable cultivation.

Ms. Janren Sarah Macaraig, a Research Associate at UPLB, took the stage to articulate the GAP interventions for soil and plant health, focusing on enhancing the safe and sustainable production of eggplant, yard-long beans, and bitter gourd. Selected farmer cooperators in all three sites shared their firsthand experiences, expressing appreciation for the GAP packages that significantly improved the productivity and quality of their vegetable crops.

An open forum provided a platform for participants to seek clarification on various aspects, after which they visited the demonstration farms. Ms. Janren Sarah Macaraig and Ms. Annabelle Albaytar guided them through the new technologies showcased, unraveling the potential for transformative change in agricultural practices.

These Farmers’ Field Days introduced cutting-edge GAP packages to a broad audience of farmers in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, generating considerable interest in adopting these technologies for safe and sustainable vegetable production. As a testament to WorldVeg’s commitment to fostering innovations for the safe and sustainable production of vegetables year-round, participants received biological inputs and pheromone traps, equipping them to explore these advancements in their upcoming vegetable production endeavors.