FITS Nabas pushes for bariw products devt

By Salvacion Villasis
Regional Applied Communications
Aklan State University

To teach bariw processors of Nabas, Aklan on the potentials and marketability of their handicrafts and products, the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center Nabas hosted a dialogue on Product and Market Development for Bariw Crops Nov. 5, 2009 at the Nabas Municipal Hall in Nabas, Aklan.

The initiative benefited some 27 women members of Nabas Multipurpose Cooperative headed by their president, Rhuna F. Tigbos.

(Clockwise from top left) RTG Coordinator Ana Mae Relingo briefs participants on Techno Gabay; LGU and ASU officials listen to speakers; a consumer examines sample bariw bags; and women members of Nabas Multipurpose Cooperative attend the dialogue.

Led by the Aklan State University (ASU), partner member agency of the Western Visayas Agriculture Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), the initiative also sought to highlight the importance of product and market development, and improve the quality of life of the local bariw processors. Stella Caldera, trade and industry development specialist from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Aklan served as the resource person.

A number of WESVARRDEC leaders supported the initiative including Regional Techno Gabay (RTG) Coordinator Anna Mae C. Relingo; ASU Techno Gabay Team Leader Clyde G. Abayon, Research and Development Services Director Elsa I. Abayon, Regional Management Information System Representative Lelisa J. Teodosio and Regional Applied Communication Representative Sally R. Villasis.

In his speech, Nabas Mayor Romeo Dalisay declared that the bariw industry is a tool that gives jobs and provides livelihood to the people of Nabas. In fact, bariw processing is considered the primary industry in Nabas, Aklan, where processors gain livelihood from making hats, mats, bags, wall decors, flower vases, accessories and other novelty items.

Birds over Flowers

Exploring MS Baltazar Gumana’s Tropical Garden
By Ricky P. Becodo and Niño S. Manaog
Regional Applied Communications
WESVARRDEC

What do love birds and flowers have in common?

Both species are found in Gumana’s Tropical Garden in barangay Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo, a cutflower farm owned and maintained by Engr. Baltazar J. Gumana, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS)—farmer scientist—recognized by the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).

Named Outstanding Farmer by the Province of Iloilo during the Semana sang Iloilo in 2009, particularly for his efforts in horticulture, Gumana maintains a garden in Pavia, Iloilo and a bigger cutflower farm in Calinog, Iloilo.

Situated in the Pavia Garden in barangay Mali-ao and in his own farm in barangay Balabag, Gumana’s cutflower culture is a must-see in the municipality of Pavia, boasting of a wide array of flowers including desert rose (Adenium obesum), cacti and a whole lot of other plants.

To complement his cutflower farm, Gumana put up an aviary in December 2008 even as he wanted to have a modest investment from which he can source additional income. This local government official who has penchant for raising birds breeds African love birds, cockatiels, parakeets (our love birds) and diamond doves, among others.

AVES FLORES
Parakeets or love birds (top left) and diamond doves (bottom left) are raised in Gumana’s aviary-cutflower farm; extension workers tour Gumana’s aviary (center); and MS Baltazar Gumana shows his trademark arrangement of anthorium, one of the flower species he raises in his cutflower farm in Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo (extreme right).


Gumana believes everyone who likes to have pets must consider the advantages of having birds as pets. For Gumana, having birds as pets is practical, cheaper and low-maintenance.

Compared to dogs and cats, birds need less feed and can even take care of themselves. Also, the birds’ songs render therapeutic value to people, particularly the elderly who are said to live sedentary lives in the household. Gumana goes on further to say that the presence of colorful caged birds could hasten the convalescence of sick or bedridden patients.

According to the farmer scientist, since raising birds as pets is a serious matter, those who wish to take on the hobby must first read up about them so they can be guided on how to properly take care of them. Advocating the care of birds as pets, Gumana hopes that one day, bird owners in Iloilo host a bird show in order to create more awareness among the public.

WESVARRDEC ISS study free software

By Niño Manaog, RAC Staff
Photo by RMISG Staff Bill Willard Gange

To address the problem of unavailable and expensive licensed software in computer systems, the Regional Management Information Systems Group (RMISG) of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) under Prof. Nilo Araneta of the UP Visayas led a comprehensive training on free software to some 29 Information Service Specialists (ISS) of the varied farmers Information and Technological Services (FITS) Centers across Western Visayas on Oct. 21–23, 2009 at the Computer Lab 1 of UPV’s College of Management in Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City.

In the first day, Mr. John Lorenz Belanio discussed and handled the workshop on word processing using OpenOffice Writer. Then, Prof. Nilo C. Araneta led discussions on communication using Internet via Instant Messaging and voice-over internet protocol (VOIP). In Day 2, RTG Staff Nicolas Banquero led the discussion on Open Office Impress, a counterpart of Microsoft PowerPoint used for e-presentations, after which Araneta lectured on Basic Spreadsheets with OpenOffice Calc. Araneta also covered Internet and Security Guides. In the last day, RACG Staff Niño Manaog shared skills on audio recording and editing using Audacity while RMISG Staff Bill Gange lectured on graphics with Gimp.

The training drew active participation and valuable feedback from ISS. In a sample interview they had during the Audacity workshop, Melanie Baldevieso of FITS Pandan and Mary Ann S. Janoya of FITS Nabas appreciated the importance of hands-on component of the training, discussing further the enhancement of their skills and how they can make use of them in their home stations.

For RMISG Coordinator Araneta, the training on free software will make participants see the need for alternative resources in the midst of rising software expense. According to Araneta, because participants are exposed to operating free software, they also get to increase their skills in rather untested territories.