Farm schools in Western Visayas are developing locally sourced agricultural products under the Department of Education’s (DepEd) One Farm School, One Product (OFSOP) initiative to equip students with farming and entrepreneurship skills.
Education Program Supervisor April Velez, the DepEd regional farm school focal person, said the initiative was patterned after the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town, One Product program.
“OFSOP is the initiative of our regional director, anchored on the One Town, One Product of DTI. The farm schools have to concentrate on one product. They will have to produce in big quantities and turn it into other by-products to teach students how to become agripreneurs, not only farmers,” Velez said.
Western Visayas currently has 11 farm schools: two each in Aklan, Iloilo province and Capiz, and one each in Antique, Guimaras, Passi City, Roxas City and Iloilo City.
Launched in the third week of October, the initiative includes training conducted with the DTI under its Be Your Own Boss Youth Entrepreneurship Program.
The farm schools showcased their initial products during the Literacy and Numeracy Expo, which opened here on Wednesday.
“These were just preliminary products. We hope to produce more because students are also conducting research on other by-products, not only food products,” Velez said.
The featured products include oysters and chili in Aklan; chayote and chives in Antique; native rice coffee and catfish in Capiz; papaya in Guimaras; mushrooms in Iloilo City; bananas and native chicken in Iloilo province; pineapple in Passi City; and squash in Roxas City.
Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who visited the exhibit, said the initiative could also help strengthen local food production amid the threat of El Niño.
He said farm schools receive special support funding under the department’s programs, allowing students in Western Visayas to propose their own projects.
Angara said the initiative also provides learners an opportunity to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial skills. (PNA)
