Municipal Tree Park, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon --- In response to the training request of Impalutao Nursery Micro-Business Association to capacitate its farmers and nursery propagators, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) through its Career Development and Management Services Section (CDMS) conducted a Skills Training on Nursery Establishment & Management with Asexual Propagation Techniques.

“Isip chairman sa environment, dako kaayo ang ikatabang sa pagpananom ug pagpadaghan ug fruit trees ug unsaon sa pagdumala sa nursery para mas makatabang dili lang sa atong henerasyon kundi para sa umaabot nga kaliwatan. Kay sila ang makabenepisyo niini, food security for future family, to community and business, also, it lessens the effect of climate change by producing good quality seedlings”, Councilor Eutropio S. Jamilo, Committee Chair on Environment said in his inspirational message.

The first step in a successful plant production is to raise healthy and disease-free seedlings. A plant nursery is a place where plants are cared for during the early stages of growth, providing optimum conditions for germination and subsequent growth until they are strong enough to be planted out in their permanent place. A nursery can be as simple as a raised bed in an open field or sophisticated as a glass-house with micro-sprinklers and an automatic temperature control system.

In one of their hands-on demo, the participants learned on the proper cultural management of nursery establishment and its maintenance in order to prepare quality seedlings for market and business since the role of a mother plant is very primary and important. Also, the training helps the participants to produce and ensure high quality of seedlings to provide more opportunities and local people are encouraged to establish small-scale community nurseries.

"Agroforestry is a farming system that blends agriculture and forestry which aims to provide food, income, other resources beyond the basic needs, as well as it provides and facilitates environmental services", emphasized Mr. Henry S. Binahon in his lecture. Mr. Binahon through his ready-to-plant seedlings and lucrative seedling business is an authority when it comes to nursery establishment and management.

The participants were able to visit the nursery area of Binahon Agroforestry Farm (BAFF), one of the Learning Sites of ATI owned and managed by Mr. Binahon who is also one of the resource speakers in the said skills training. Outputs of the training include bagged soil media and grafted seedlings of fruit trees. Participants were also given grafting knife as post-training support that they can use as a tool for maintaining their nursery areas.

The skills training which transpired on July 24-26, 2019 was participated in by 30 farmers, nursery propagators and technicians from the different barangays of the municipality. Training Specialist-II Moisa Niña D. Catiil served as the Project Officer. (with reports from Moisa Niña D. Catiil and Anthonette June Ruselle)