LOS ANGELES, Butuan City - Twenty-six agricultural extension workers (AEWs) of Caraga region became full-fledged Cacao specialists after they successfully completed the Season-long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Cacao Production and Processing with NC III through the sponsorship of the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center XIII.

Meanwhile, 153 farmers from the cities of Butuan and Cabadbaran completed the Farmers’ Field School (FFS) on Cacao Production. Graduation ceremony of both events was simultaneously held at the ATI-Caraga training complex last December 21, 2017.

Domingo O. Viduya from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Surigao del Sur and concurrently the President of Class Buena Caraga 2017, expressed his thanks to ATI for the opportunity of being one of participants of the season-long training. “Mapasalamaton ko kaayo sa ATI because we are fortunate enough to be part of the first batch of Cacao specialists sa Mindanao. Hinaut nga kita nga na-train sa ATI mutabang sa pag-organize para mukita pud atong farmers pinaagi sa pagtanom ug Cacao.” (I am very thankful to ATI because we are fortunate enough to be part of the first batch of Cacao specialists in Mindanao. I hope we, who were trained by ATI, will help organize farmers in order that they will also earn from Cacao).

Another season-long trainee Dailinda A. Mollanida from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit XIII considered the training as her best moment in 2017. She professed that the training helped increase her knowledge on Cacao production which was very important for her because she is the Cacao focal person in her office. “Lisod kaayo nga ikaw focal person tapos wala kay hinanawan. Dakong tabang gyud ang training sa akoa labi na tong mga exposure trips namo sa lain-laing mga lugar kay didto namo nahibal-an ang mga good practices sa Cacao production ug processing.” (It’s hard when you’re a focal person and you don’t know anything. The training was really a great help especially the exposure trips in different places because there we witnessed the best practices in Cacao production and processing).

Moreover, Marlon P. Pajares of LGU-Claver, Surigao del Sur challenged his fellow AEWs and farmers to share what they know about Cacao production. “Atong ipahibalo sa uban ang atong nakat-unan. Nahibalo ako nga adunay mga hagit sa pagtanom ug Cacao gikan sa produksiyon paingon na sa pag-market niini pero tungod sa pag-abag sa ATI ug DA atong makab-ot ang kalampusan.” (We should share what we learned [from this training]. I know there are many challenges in growing Cacao from production to marketing but through the support of ATI and DA we can attain success).

Lastly, Robert T. Poculan Jr., ATI-Caraga Center Director, reminded the participants that the knowledge they gained from the training is a blessing that needs to be shared to others. “Any difference that Christ makes in your life is a story worth telling. Sa kadaghan nga AEWs sa tibuok Caraga kamo pa gyuy napilian. Sa kadaghang farmers sa Caraga ngano kamo pa gyuy gitagaan ug oportunidad nga muapil sa FFS. Tungod kay Ginoo ana ang nagbuot sa tanan. Blessing kini nga kinanglan nga dili nato ihikaw sa uban.” (Any difference that Christ makes in your life is a story worth telling. Of the many AEWs in the entire Caraga region you were among the few chosen to participate. Of the many farmers in Caraga, you are among the few who were given the opportunity to join the FFS. It was God who made these things happen. This is a blessing from Him which we should also share to others.)

The participants of the season-long training underwent four months of rigorous training on social technology, Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA), FFS approach and concept, Cacao cultural management, management of location-specific major pests and diseases, harvesting and post-harvest handling, post-harvest processing, agricultural marketing strategies, farm planning and budgeting, and managing agricultural risks and opportunities in changing climates and environment.

Besides lecture-discussions, the trainees also had workshop sessions, group output presentations, field practicum, feed-backing and processing, method/result demonstrations, micro-teaching, open forum, and field day. They were deployed in select barangays in Butuan and Cabadbaran cities where they became trainers in the FFS. The farmers who graduated along with them were their FFS students. Prior to the graduation ceremony, the said AEWs and farmers joined a field day and technology demonstration at the Cacao farm of Rodolfo Perez located in Brgy. Sumilihon, Butuan City.