The participants prepare their AESA report for presentation.
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur – The Farmers Field School (FFS) on Cacao Production was formally concluded last November 6, 2019.
A total of 26 farmer-participants from Barangay Lucac went through an on-field and participatory discovery-based learning process from the cultural management practices up to post-harvest handling of cacao.
Agricultural Technologists Kane Nekko A. Galvez and Lolito G. Noja, Jr. served as facilitators and Resource Persons during the whole duration of the FFS. Along with the field demonstration were lectures on the roadmap of the cacao industry, cultural management practices, Nutrient Management, Good Agricultural Practices, Harvesting, and Post-harvest handling of cacao. The participants also conducted Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA).
During the graduation ceremony, Samuel L. Calonzo, Center Director of the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 13 acknowledged the active support of the Local Government Unit through the Municipal Agriculturist Office in the implementation of the FFS.
Meanwhile, Municipal Agriculturist Viña R. Ranoco guaranteed their continued assistance and provision of technical support and relevant trainings to improve the farming practices of the farmers not only in Lucac but also to other barangays identified as part of the Upland Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development (USAD) project of the Provincial Local Government.
The FFS was launched by ATI-RTC 13 last June 28, 2019 and funded under the High Value Crops Development Program.