OPOL, Misamis Oriental─ ‘Farmers can now teach fellow farmers’ in Opol, Misamis Oriental as the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) produced forty (40) FSTP corn farmer graduates on November 8, 2018 at Poblacion, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The graduates have undergone a season-long training of the 3rd Phase of the Farmers Scientist Training Program ( FSTP). The farmers have attended a once a day per week session with the experts from the Local- Department of Agriculture ( DA) from May 23- October 21, 2018.

The training was focused on Integrated Research and Development with Extension Program partnering with the farmers, as the users and extension workers of farming technology and innovation.The phase III of the FSTP is the field application of the farmer scientist through an ‘adopt-a Barangay’ Model, and shared their expertise on how to develop and generate technologies. It also emphasized sustainable farming system with livestock and crop production to increase farmers’ income.

The training was graced by Hon. Maximino Seno, Municipal Mayor of Opol, and Hon. Chizarina Mabulay- Ortigoza, Vice-Mayor of the municipality. Hon. Ortigoza expressed her support to the farmers, corn industry and the program in her special message to the graduates.

The farmers are also graduates of Phase I and Phase II conducted by ATI-RTC X in 2017( from the reports of Noriel Kris Santillan).