DILIMAN, Quezon City – As part of capacitating agricultural extension workers (AEWs) specifically those assigned in the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) conducted an online National Training of Trainers (TOT) on Nursery Establishment, Management and Accreditation on August 5-6, 2021 via google meet.

It was attended by representatives from the different Department of Agriculture line agencies and bureaus. In Caraga Region, there were six participants namely: Mary Jane Gonzaga and Rutchel Batac from ATI-Regional Training Center XIII, Billy Alegado and Jess Edrolin from Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), and Beb Palingcod and Michael Aguillos from DA-Regional Field Office 13.

Topics on the do’s and don’ts in nursery establishment, seedling tagging, cultural management, and guidelines on accreditation of nursery establishment including executive orders and other documents released were discussed.

The course also includes actual grafting of durian and cacao which was done in Butuan City demonstration farm and nursery at barangay Pigdaulan with Melanio Catayas Jr., Agricultural Technologist of the City Agriculture Office, as resource speaker.