SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – In support to the promotion of agricultural modernization in the country, The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CALABARZON conducted a simultaneous “Training on Basic Corn Production and Mechanization and on Basic Coffee Production and Mechanization” in coordination with the City Agriculture Office.
A total of 24 participants consisting of members from the San Pablo City Corn Farmers Association and San Pablo City Coffee Growers Association participated in the said activity.
The lectures and demonstrations were delivered through recorded video presentations. The lecturers were graduates of the season-long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Agricultural Mechanization conducted last year by the Center.
Ms. Liezel Reyzen Mendoza from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Gumaca talked about Integrated Nutrient Management, Integrated Pest Management and Corn-Based Farming System, while Ms. Lariza Vey Cabaya, from City Agriculture Office of Trece Martires City introduced the Compact Corn Mill and Pneumatic Corn Planter machineries. Meanwhile, Mr. Ronald B. Balmes of DA-QARES discussed the demonstration of different corn machineries.
For the coffee training, Ms. Cynthia C. Perez of the Office of Provincial Agriculture – Cavite walked the participants through the status of coffee industry in the Philippines, coffee production based on Philippine National Standards (PNS): Code of GAP for Coffee. Mr. Mark Jayvee Mojica of Cavite State University tackled Coffee Harvesting and the Primary and Secondary Processing of Coffee. Also, Mr. Manuel Hernandez of Municipal Agriculture Office of Tiaong demonstrated some of the coffee machineries used on postharvest operations.
After completing the training, the members of the Corn Farmers Association received sacks of corn seeds, complete fertilizer, vermicast and Bio-N, while members of the Coffee Farmers Association received coffee seedlings, sacks of complete fertilizer and Vermicast.
The two trainings were conducted on October 20-21 and 22-23, 2020 at ABF Integrated Farm and Agribusiness Center Inc.
Content: Daynon Kristoff Imperial