The participants with (front row L-R) Engr. Cuadra of LGU alubijid, Mis. Or., Mr. Nebo Janog of MOCIDA, Mr. Apollo Pacamalan, PA of Mis. Or. and Mr. Phillip D. Villegas, Planning Officer of ATI-RTC X (extreme right).
ATI-RTC X, EL SALVADOR CITY - Twenty four farm owners from Alubijid, Misamis Oriental and neighboring municipalities received their certificate of completion for the Season Long Farmers Field School on Cacao Production today, in a graduation ceremony at the ATI-RTC X, El Salvador City. The cacao farmers have undergone the four months training from August 3 to November 22, 2018.
The training aimed to empower the farmers with the knowledge and skills to make them experts in the field of cacao production. It included the skills on producing organic concoctions for fertilizer and plant health, which they can implement in their farm. Not only did the farm owners learn about production. They also learn how to make critical and informed decisions that would render their farming activities profitable and sustainable.
According to one of the participants, “In farming, my husband and I learned from you tube and other social media. But learning is different when we do it in actual, plus the chance to ask questions and visit other farms”.
In his inspirational message, Mr. , Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, Provincial Agriculturist of Misamis Oriental, revealed the some of the plans of the Provincial Government to establish a Feed mill and an Organic Fertilizer Plant. These will be intended provide the farmers with cheaper fertilizers and inputs for their farm. He also informed the farmers that his office provides a person in-charge to assist them in market updates and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration.
Another inspiring message was from the one of the guest speaker, Mr. Nebo Janog of the Misamis Oriental Cacao Industry Development Association (MOCIDA), pointed out four important things why engage in cacao production: a new breed of farmer knows how to produce and market the products; many want to plant cacao but few survive so do not fear about losing the market, there are many opportunities in value adding for cacao, and lastly as a challenge, cacao farming is a passion and we need to do what we learned.
The graduates were able to organize into an association named Bulawanong Pag-unlad Farmers’ Association, Inc., and already registered SEC.