Featured Program: Integrated Farming School

The Integrated Farming School complex is on ICM's 10 acre farm in the Negros DSB mountains. A long term dream came true last February, when a new facility containing a conference room and dormitory were opened with a ceremony attended by government officials, barangay captains and ICM staff and board members.

The first residential class was a 5-day Pig Raising and Breeding course for 57 recipients. They were thrilled not to have to travel to the center each day, and commented on the comfort of the housing – many had never slept on a foam mattress before! Being uninterrupted, the course was very successful; 100% passed and are eligible for ICM's Pig Raising and Breeding Program. Many more farming courses are scheduled, and when not in use the building will be rented to local community groups for meetings.

Other highlights of the Integrated Farming School:

• New facility accommodates 55 people, has a 70+ person conference room, kitchen, dining room and showers
• Courses offered at the school include raising livestock, farmland preparation, soil conservation and organic fertilizer production
• At the moment there are 82 pigs and 15 piglets on the farm