ALEGRIA, Surigao del Norte – Twenty-nine (29) farmers attended the five-month Farmer Scientists Training Program Phase I in order to develop their technical and scientific capabilities grow corn, vegetables and other utilizing appropriate farming technologies.

Specifically, the training aims to cultivate the minds of the farmers through values formation, changing attitudes toward teamwork, cooperation and sharing technical information; equip farmers with scientific knowledge and technologies on hilly in corn-based farming system; apply integrated pest management (IPM) using biological control agents and natural enemies of pest and diseases causing organism; proper use of pesticides; make farming as a business enterprise through formation of farmers’ organization, cooperative and marketing networks, develop self-reliant and sustaining farmers and communities through maximum production of corn and other economic crops to supply the market demand; and to strengthen the leadership among farmers in their respective communities.

“We are very thankful to the partner agencies who are supporting this training in Alegria. We farmers already know how to farm but they encourage us to learn more about corn growing. By joining FSTP, it increased by knowledge, like breeding corn which is very crucial because we need to ensure that 50% have pollens. Second is the detasseling the corn in which we also learned a lot. We are happy because the Phase I training has been successful. We do hope that what has been learned will be applied in Phase II,” expressed corn farmer Remabel V. Moreno during the graduation rites.

The training started last May and ended in September 2018.