Another batch of facilitators was trained by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) on dairy buffalo production and management under the project on Farmer Livestock School on Dairy Buffalo Production (FLS-DBP).
The participants were composed of 10 local government unit staff members, seven dairy farmers and three PCC staff members from Bulacan, Tarlac, Ilocos Norte, and Bohol. They underwent a 15-day training last May 8 and graduated on May 26.
“The trainings were composed of a series of lectures, workshops, practicals, and field visits for the participants to be equipped with knowledge and skills as facilitators on FLS-DBP,” Dr. Eric Palacpac, project leader, said.
As indicated in the program of activities, the participants underwent six training courses, as prepared by the module developers from the PCC. Such courses covered the topics on: (1) Preparing Facilitators for FLS Implementation; (2) Mobilizing Communities for FLS; (3) Raising Healthy and Productive Dairy Buffalo; (4) Building Enterprises from Buffalo; (5) Participatory Technology Development; and (6) Participatory Tools to Measure FLS Effects and Impacts.
“FLS is designed as a learning platform where the trainers and participants can learn from each other e.g., by exchanging ideas and others, breaking the teacher-student approach that we are doing in the past. Thus, it is not boring,” Palacpac said.
The FLS-DBP is a project aimed at developing modalities and strengthening technology adoption among village-based dairy buffalo farmers. Currently, the project is assessing the impact of its first two batches of FLS-DBP learning workshops conducted in San Jose City and Guimba, Nueva Ecija; and Ilocos Norte.
Thirty-six farmers from Nueva Ecija and some 40 farmers from Ilocos Norte graduated last February and May, respectively.
The FLS learning workshops (for facilitators and farmers) are also being stewarded by Ms. Marie P. Alo, Senior Science Research Specialist from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
Ms. Alo said that a finalized module that has complete workshop courses is expected to be developed after the impact assessment of the two trainings conducted by the PCC.
“The finalized module will be used as a medium to replicate FLS-DBP in various areas in the Philippines,” she added.
Aside from Alo, key PCC staff who served as resource persons for different topics about DBP during the 15-day workshop include: Knowledge Management Division Chief Dr. Eric P. Palacpac; Research and Development Division Chief Dr. Annabelle S. Sarabia; Project Development Officers Ester B. Flores and Dr. Nancy S. Abes; Scientists Dr. Peregrino Duran and Rosalina Lapitan; Farm Superintendent Dr. Cyril P. Baltazar; PCC@CLSU center director Dr. Daniel Aquino, Senior Science Research Specialist Dr. Meriam M. Cabling; and Science Research Specialists Ms. Mina P. Abella, Dr. Renelyn Labindao and Mr. Erwin Valiente.
