LLCA Conducts Integrated Crop Management Training
By Edilbert Campomanes, ICRAF-Lantapan

The Lantapan Landcare Association (LLCA), through its crops and marketing cluster, PAGLAMBU, is currently conducting an Integrated Crop Management (ICM) training for selected crops in three selected barangays of Lantapan—Kaatoan for bell pepper, Songco for tomato, and Kawayan for broccoli and eggplant. The activity aims to set up a marketing strategy leading to a sustainable livelihood among farmers in Lantapan.

The ICM is a season-long training on sustainable crop production and marketing. The training course includes eight modules which will be tackled within 21 weeks. One of the modules is focused on the options for soil and water conservation. However, the training will give emphasis on the zero/minimum tillage as the newly introduced Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) technology option.

The ICM is being conducted weekly in three selected barangays for the convenience of the farmers to attend in the training. The training is being implemented through minimal support from various agencies. One of the culture that is being emphasized in the training is that the farmers must give their equity and not to depend so much on grants.

The main facilitator, and at the same time, resource person of ICM is the president of PAGLAMBU, Mr. Randy Ricacho. ICRAF-Lantapan, along with other collaborating agencies as the Local Government Unit, Seminis Seeds, Inc., Allied Botanical Corporation, and Syngenta Philippines, Inc., provide support by means of co-facilitation, documentation, and having their respective representatives serve as co-resource persons during the training.