Maria Dulce Mostoles explains the process of raising stingless bees.
PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan—After its regional roll-out in selected cities last 2018, AgriTalk continues to inform Filipinos on investment opportunities in farming.
As spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), in partnership with Agriculture Magazine of the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation and Bureau of Agricultural Research, the activity features a sharing of different farming technologies and of success stories in agribusiness. This is to inspire more people to engage in agriculture as a sustainable venture.
In the first of its series this year, some 270 urban farmers and agriculture enthusiasts in Palawan were educated on different farming practices. These include beekeeping, simple nutrient addition program (SNAP) hydroponics, and mushroom production technologies.
Maria Dulce Mostoles, a professor at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, shared her expertise on beekeeping. She recommended ways to manage stingless bees and produce honey bee for business purposes.
“In beekeeping, the first thing that you should do is environmental scanning,” she advised the participants.
Mostoles also provided information on beehive structures and nest architectures. Similarly, she presented her study on the Utilization and Commercial Production of Stingless Bees and its By-products.
Meanwhile, Jesse Descalsota of the University of the Philippines Los Baños gave tips on container gardening through SNAP hydroponics. He discussed its potentials in the Philippines and showcased some hydroponics systems.
Jennifer Reyes, from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office in MiMaRoPa, demonstrated some techniques and opportunities in mushroom production.
Aside from the lectures and demonstrations, free information, education, and communication materials were also distributed during the event.
Participants from Puerto Princesa City were glad to be part of the activity. One of them is Angie Antiojo who remarked that the one-day seminar was “very informative and timely.”
Agribusiness enthusiast Maryjane Abrea also commented, “This will help us start our desired (agricultural) production business.”
The activity was held last April 5 in SM City Puerto Princesa. DA-Palawan Research Experiment Station chief Milagros Cacal was also present and encouraged the attendees to make the most out of the free lectures.