LOCKED ON – Farmers from Balo-i, Lanao del Norte show their interest to the topic of Mr. Pedro Mariquit as he demonstrates the material needed and the steps for the production of mushroom. They even recorded the whole procedure and jotted down notes for them to remember everything.
ILIGAN CITY – Acting on the Letter of Request addressed to former Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Director Luz A. Taposok, PhD., the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center X (ATI- RTC X) conducted the Training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on Container Gardening and Mushroom Growing last February 26 – 28, 2018 at Balay Sa Hardin, Luinab, Iligan City.
The training aims to capacitate the participants on the basic knowledge on container gardening and straw mushroom production following the good agricultural practices. The topics include Container Gardening & Vegetable Production Technology, Straw Mushroom Production, Concoction Preparation and Application, Principles of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and the Economics in Container Gardening & Straw Mushroom Production.
Resource persons to the training are learning site operators of ATI. They are Ms. Gloria S. Fernando of Balay sa Hardin, Ms. Queenie Notario of Queensland Farm in Bacolod Lanao del Norte, and Mr. Pedro Mariquit of Mariquit Mushroom Farm. These resource persons are all practitioners of the technology they shared to the participants.
The training was participated by the members of the Ragonan Farmers Association of Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, led by their President, Mr. Mohammad Khalid R. Casan. Last year, Mr. Casan requested to former ATI Director Luz A. Taposok for a training on Urban Farming as the association does not have the available area and sufficient supply of clean water for the establishment of a communal garden. Their request was then funded this year.
The participants were very keen and enthusiastic on the process on growing and producing mushroom. “Mr. Pedro Mariquit shared to us everything he knew about mushroom production and we are very thankful for that. We will try to produce mushroom of our own in our respective homes so that we can eat this premium and delicious food anytime,” said Mr. Abdulmon Mohaimen, one of the participants to the training. “We are very thankful to ATI for giving this training to us. We did not expect it as we only requested for urban farming,” he added.
The training is funded under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP). (with Reports from Bryan Jay Cabugwason and Moisa Niña D. Catiil)