NASIPIT, Agusan del Norte - The Farmer Scientists Training Program (FSTP) Phase I aimed to give farmers direct contact with agricultural experts to develop their technical and scientific capabilities to improve their present farming practices to ensure a more sustainable development in the rural areas. The training was participated in by 31 corn farmers from different barangays of the municipality of Nasipit.

The participants were divided into eight groups corresponding to the eight trials of the training. During the 18-week duration, they met once a week for discussion and inputs. The participants learned how to perform a more scientific way of field experimentation with the help of the facilitators from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Nasipit. They also learned the basic techniques and principles of corn breeding, detasseling and IPM strategies.

The participants expressed their gratitude during the graduation and Phase II launching ceremony on October 4, 2018. The training also garnered the full support of the local government of Nasipit headed by the municipal Mayor Hon. Enrico R. Corvera during the graduation ceremony who expressed his commitment of support on the upcoming Phase II of the training. The participants were eager to replicate the learnings into their farms during the Phase II in which it will be home-based adaptation of the technologies and findings learned from Phase I training.

“I am thanking UP Los Baños for this training and for sharing the technology which is giving us the enthusiasm to grow corn. We are also thanking ATI and Mayor Enrico Corvera for their active support. The Mayor has been visiting us every week. Our gratitude also to the MAO staff for giving the lectures on growing corn, pests and diseases and intercropping techniques which will provide additional income to the farmers. We hope that there will still be opportunities like this in the future,” said Roel Maceda, one of the participants, during the closing program.

The FSTP Phase I ran for four months from May to September 2018. Its aim is to give farmers in the uplands direct contact with agricultural experts in order to develop their technical and scientific capabilities to grow corn, vegetables and other crops utilizing appropriate farming technologies.