27 Capiz parolees taught fish culture, vegetable gardening

By Niño Saavedra Manaog

University Extension Associate

Capiz State University

To help “uplift their socioeconomic status and be productive citizens,” the Capiz Parole and Probation Office, in collaboration with the Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute (EI), led the conduct of Training on Fish Culture and Vegetable Gardening to some 27 parolees on October 27, 2010 at the CapSU Extension Institute in Poblacion, Mambusao, Capiz.

According to Supervising Probation and Parole Officer Ramonsito Canja, the initiative formed part of the Capiz Parole and Probation Office’s celebration of the National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW).

Led by its Extension Director Raul L. Ticar, CapSU EI lectured on fish culture and organic farming technologies to 27 parolees and five Volunteer Probation Aides coming from the towns of Sapian, Mambusao, Sigma, Jamindan, Dumalag and Tapaz, all of Capiz. Ticar lectured on how to raise pantat (catfish) and bio-intensive gardening while Technology Services Specialist Ceferino Lizada engaged the participants on backyard tilapiaraising.

Training Coordinator Eduardo Navarra introduced backyard farming to the former inmates using the concept of edible landscape by Mr. Ramon Peñalosa, Jr. of Negros Occidental. Navarra stressed on how farming and vegetable raising can be done using indigenous materials and those which can be found around the household. Navarra also echoed to the participants the technologies he learned from Agri-link 2010 in Manila, especially the organic practices by Laguna-based Gil Carandang, considered to be the father of natural and organic farming in the country.

After the lectures, the facilitators distributed to parolees seeds of vegetables like tomato, eggplant and pechay which they could use to start in their own backyard planting. Canja said the training sought to help facilitate the parolees’ vocational survival as part of the therapeutic mechanisms and interventions for them in consonance with their NACOCOW theme “Towards Justice that Moves Beyond Punishment.”

Thirty six-year-old Arnel Fajader, who is serving three years probation, said he understood the idea involved in fish culture and the little capital it needs for startup. Fajader lamented, however, that capital is his first consideration. The bamboo furniture maker from Barangay Consolacion in Dumalag town said he could share the ideas and technologies learned to his mother, and from which their family could get extra income.

Meanwhile, 53-year-old parolee Monina Lagla of Barangay Sto. Angel. Dumalag, Capiz cited the information shared to them, saying “Maayo [ang program] kay may makuahan kami sang impormasyon tungod sa pagtanom [The program is good because we are able to get information on gardening]. Lagla said she would plant the seeds in her own backyard but also said she would give the others to her children who have a bigger piece of land in Dumalag where they can raise the vegetables and start out similar sources of livelihood.

Sixty-year old farmer Rofoldo Gerapista from Barangay Initan, Tapaz, a father of seven children, considered the training helpful, saying, “Makabulig ini sa pangabuhi. Kun may capital makahimo gid kita sang buluhaton (It could help us; and if we have capital, we could start up something). Gerapista said he would also start planting the seeds given to them.

Hambal ni Nong Bal

(Sabi ni Manong Bal)

Q&A with Engr. Baltazar J. Gumana

Magsasaka Siyentista, WESVARRDEC

Recipient, Science and Technology-based Farm (STBF) by PCARRD, 2010

Interview by the Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG)

March 2010, General Luna St., Iloilo City

What are three qualities of a good cut flower farm?

• Clean
• Orderly
• Organized and well-planned

How will the farm become a self-sustaining and profitable investment?

The farm can be a self-sustaining and profitable investment through gradual steps.

• Mono cropping has its benefits but you may practice intercropping.
• Invest in other amenities. Prioritize the water source.
• The farmer’s presence is essential to maintaining the farm.
• Be in the lookout for in-demand plants.

What problems do you foresee in establishing the cutflower farm? How do you solve them?

• Problem—Some land areas have dry soil. Solution—The farmer should research about farming and planting. He should study the topography of the area before determining what to plant. He must fence the entire planting area in order to prevent pilferage or vandalism.

• Problem—Maintaining a cutflower business with containerized ornamental plants needs a big capital. Solution—The cut flower farmer should have a good capital investment to facilitate startup of business. Planting short-gestation plants will help defray the farming expenses.

• Problem—Cutflower business demands full-time, hard labor. Solution—Know your plants. Be in the farm most if not all the time. Schedule planting in anticipation of agri-fairs and horticulture fairs.

How does a cut flower farmer profit from the farm?

• Attend and participate in seminars and trainings on plants culture. Share your knowledge and experience on cut flower farming.
• Prepare plants for sale during garden shows and agri-fairs.
• Make available flyers, leaflets, ads, handouts, etc. to promote your plants.
• Network with local DTI and DA offices for project grants and technical assistance. Establish ties with your local and regional horticulture organizations and federations to access business opportunities.
• Establish your own garden center when it is practical.
• Expand. Aside from cut flowers, be able to breed and develop a market for specialty plants and flowers.

What are the indicators of a socially responsible cut flower farm?

• Sharing of information on the technology is indispensable.
• The farm must be convincing for visiting farmers, entrepreneur and agri-tourists.

What are your top technologies on cut flower farming?

• Growing Anthuriums
• Propagation of Dracaena cultivars, other ornamental plants and fruit bearing trees
• Planning, presentation and establishment of gardens and orchards

What are your farming practices?

• Know the suitable crops for your area. Always consider the climatic conditions
• Learn the technology.
• Mulching. Use a plastic mulch to ward off nematodes and fungi and weeds to produce quality plants.
• Mass propagation of Dracaena
• Faster and better way of grafting and inarching of ornamental plants like Adeniums and fruit trees.

What are your unique cut flower farming practices?

Single-node Dracaena

• Planting a single node of Dracaena allows more plants and yield. The usual practice is planting Dracaena using 3 nodes.

Mulching and anthuriums

• Anthurium plantlings are not directly placed to the ground. Encasing them in plastic mulching helps protect the plants from nematodes. This practice reduces expenses for weeding and insecticides.

Planned planting

• Learn about the plant itself first before you plant and cultivate. Common knowledge on plants is not enough. It will help future farmers to read up on farming practices they engage in.

What could be done to Philippine agriculture in the next five years?

• Because the LGU’s economy is anchored in agriculture, the task is to make agriculture attractive to all to the extent that—“kahit hindi farmer pwedeng mag-farm.” A national program—government policies and programs must be in place—should give incentives to farming.
• There must be a national effort to retool technicians to beef up their expertise and skills on what is supposed to be their basic roles.

FITS Banga leads 4-H club rally, agri-fair, etc.

By Salvacion R. Villasis
With reports from ISS Neneveh Ron

To showcase the harvest of the “beautiful town of Banga,” the Municipal Agriculture Office and the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Banga, Aklan led the Agri-Fair for Fruit and Vegetables, 4-H Club Rally and Farmers Forum cum Graduation of Farmers Field School on Oct. 13–15, 2010 at the Teodosio Park in Poblacion, Banga, Aklan.

Dr. Anna Mae Relingo, Regional Techno Gabay (RTG) Coordinator of Western Visayas Agriculture Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) and Director of Extension and Community Services (ECS) of Aklan State University (ASU), stressed that the role of the farm youths in agriculture sector is very significant. “Whatever happens, agriculture would still be the backbone of our country because our existence depends on it,” Relingo said. Relingo said ASU plays a crucial role as partner of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Banga in bringing technologies to the countryside. She also promoted the FITS Center in Banga and highlighted its services and achievements.

Mr. Mesitlie Teruel, Senior Agriculturist and Regional 4-H Club Coordinator of Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 6 (ATI-RTC 6) said that one of the main thrusts of DA is to build up out-of-school youth through scholarships, livelihood and exchange program. As DA's training and extension arm, ATI revived the 4-H Club Youth Development Program to further strengthen them “in its quest for agricultural development.”

Mr. Ricardo Saltin, Corn Program Coordinator of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit 6, also said the youths must develop the virtues of trust, obedience and stewardship so they could take part in agricultural development.

Other activities included tilts on poster making, dish garden making, impromptu speech, Original Pilipino Music singing, dance sport and Search for Mr. and Miss 4-H Club. ASU Techno Gabay Team Leader Clyde Abayon, Regional Applied Communication Group Representative Salvacion Villasis and TG Staff Nicolas Banquero served as judges.

The celebration also featured a Farmers’ Forum attended by some 140 local farmers with representatives from the DA-RFU 6 and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office 6. Twenty-seven hybrid corn farmers and 21 vegetable farmers were graduated by the Season-Long Farmers Field School on Integrated Pest Management and Training on Vegetable and Corn Production.

Municipal Agricultural Officer and FITS Manager Gelly Maypa cited the support of the Municipal Government of Banga led by Mayor Antonio Maming, ASU, DA-RFU 6, ATI-RTC 6, Banga’s Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council (MAFC) and Banga Elementary School.

FITS CapSU Mambusao hosts 36 Pavia agri-tourists

By Niño Manaog

Photo by Rector John Latoza

As part of its continued and effective extension activities, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Capiz State University (CapSU) Poblacion Campus in Poblacion, Mambusao, Capiz played host to some 36 agri-tourists from Pavia, Iloilo during their cross visit and study tour on September 30, 2010.

Led by Dr. Raul Ticar, director of the CapSU’s Extension Institute, FITS CapSU Mambusao showcased to the visitors the technologies practiced including vermiculture and other organic interventions by the Center’s experts.

The group composed of Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Council (BAFC) leaders, members and staff of Pavia LGU and led by FITS Pavia Manager Homer Hubag, dropped by the center on a study tour to the Darag native chicken farm of WESVARRDEC Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Margarito Andrade in Barangay Libas, Banga, Aklan.

Training Coordinator Eduardo Navarra (see photo), who is also CapSU’s Techno Gabay Team Leader for the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), led the demonstration on the production of the carbonized rice hull. The Center also featured to the visitors the vermitea it has recently prepared to be used as foliar fertilizers. According to Navarra, indigenous microorganisms (IMO) fertilizers do not fail to wow agri-tourists and visitors because of its practicability. Producing fermented plant juice and vermitea can be easily done using only household materials and ingredients.

Rice farmer Pedro Jabonillo, Pavia’s Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council (MAFC) treasurer, said he learned much from Navarra’s lecture and later told Hubag that he would try making his own carbonized rice hull in his own farm in Pavia. Leah Calambro, FITS Pavia information service specialist, expressed appreciation of the technologies featured to them. Technology Services Specialist Marilyn Hondrade said that organic farming practices are practicable because they do not require farmers to buy commercially prepared pesticides; they also reduce the health risks for the farmers and consumers of agricultural crops.

Hubag said the visit to FITS CapSU Mambusao was worth it, considering the short period they spent there. Hubag then sought to request Navarra to lead the training on mushroom culture production for their municipality before the year ends.

According to Ticar, FITS CapSU Mambusao counts the Pavia visit as another accomplishment of the Center, having been able to share to more agri tourists on their featured technologies. FITS CapSU Mambusao is supported by its staff, namely: Ceferino Lizada, Shirley Lizada, Mary Ann Lariza, Antonio Buñi, Abner Villareal and Winnie Estocada and Rector John Latoza.

RACG Activities and Accomplishments

RACG Rocks

The Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG) led by Coordinator Cora F. Navarra of the Capiz State University (CapSU) performs the various functions for the consortium's regional applied communication.

In various capacities and instances, RACG has delivered more tasks as is necessary.

FITS Batad hosts first corn congress

By Niño Saavedra Manaog

With Reports from Eva Montero

Some 250 farmers, stakeholders of the corn industry, representatives of the Techno Gabay Program, seed technology companies and pesticide and fertilizer companies; government officials, teachers and students witnessed the first Municipal Corn Congress, FITS Day and Corn Derby hosted by the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center Batad on October 5, 2010 at Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) Batad Campus Social Hall and OPV Corn Techno-Demo Research Farm in Batad, Iloilo. No less than Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor himself led the opening rites and activities.

According to FITS Batad Manager Eva Montero, the congress sought to encourage farmers to adopt the open-pollinated varieties of corn and use natural farming system to increase their corn yield. Montero said that the first Corn Derby sought to showcase the technology in the corn techno-demo research farm as well as to allow corn farmers and stakeholders to see the performance of the corn technology package.

To en courage students to cook up value-adding recipe for corn, the center also hosted a Corn Dish Cooking Contest. Seven entries representing the six NIPSC campuses were evaluated by the team composed of Dr. Raul Ticar, Director of Capiz State University’s Extension Institute, Dr. Lelisa Teodosio, RMIS Representative of Aklan State University and Ms. Dina Palma, Information Services Specialist of FITS Oton in Iloilo. NIPSC Ajuy’s “Corn Ala Risotto on a bed of Stir-Fried Vegetables with Chicken Curry Sauce” (Fusion of European and Oriental Cuisine the Filipino Way) romped away with the top prize, followed by NIPSC Batad’s “Maize con Carne” and NIPSC Sara’s “Baby Young Corn Sisig.”

The initiative was done in collaboration with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Batad, NIPSC Batad and Agricultural Training Institute-RTC 6. All these efforts formed part of FITS Batad’s initiative to establish and showcase high-yielding open-pollinated varieties (OPV) of corn, improved technologies and better farm practices. In April 2009, the Center sponsored the OPV seed production technology training in collaboration with partners from the Cotabato-based University of Southern Mindanao.

CapSU EI graduates 35 new welders

By Niño Saavedra Manaog
University Extension Associate
Capiz State University

In collaboration with the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Capiz, the Barangay Council of Bula, the Capiz provincial government and the Capiz State University (CapSU), the CapSU Extension Institute led the graduation exercises of some 35 students of the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) held on October 6, 2010 in barangay Bula, Mambusao, Capiz.

The collaboration between six government agencies and institutions is led by (seated from left) Dr. Raul L. Ticar, CapSU extension director; TESDA Capiz Provincial Director Victor Gallego; DOLE Provincial Head Ricardo Monegro; and Engr. Kenneth Occeño, CapSU extension chairman and MTS team leader.

Under the theme “Timbuok Bula para Kaayuhan, Skills Training Kinahanglan, Aton Buas Damlag Tamdan, Dr. Raul L. Ticar, CapSU extension director, joined other representatives of said government agencies in conferring the Certificates of Completion to 35 graduates including 29 male students, six female students—among them barangay councilmen and out-of-school youth in Bula, Bato-bato and neighboring barangays in Mambusao town.

Led by the Mobile Technology Schools (MTS), an intervention by CapSU that seeks to provide skills enhancement training through technology transfer and livelihood education across the province of Capiz, the two-month skills training course was facilitated by Mr. Remar Apolinario, extension coordinator for Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology in CapSU Roxas City Campus and Mr. Lee Bangcoyo, lead trainer, who lectured and led the workshops for the key competencies for welding as required by TESDA.

According to Engr. Kenneth Occeño, CapSU extension chairman and MTS team leader, the 35 new graduates are an addition to some 300 past student beneficiaries of the MTS since its inception in 2007. The welding lecture sessions and workshops were held from August 14, 2010 to September 3, 2010 in the Barangay Hall of Bula, Mambusao town.

Thirty-six-year old Joven Gavino of Bato-bato said the training helped him appreciate not only the concepts behind arc welding but also the skills involved in it. According to Gavino, the workshops they had allowed for them an indispensable hands-on learning experience. A certificate holder of marine engineering course in University of Iloilo, Gavino said that if given the chance, he would want to teach the same skills to high school students in Capiz. The deckhand personnel course graduate from Aklan Polytechnic College also said he would first want to work abroad primarily to generate income for their family.

Joelly Ann Celoso, 20 years old, is among the six female students of the course. Celoso said she enlisted in this free course after seeing on TV a strong demand for female welders abroad. But the Bula out-of-school youth who completed all fifteen days sessions said she might as well need experience first before considering working abroad. Celoso is grateful for the important skills imparted to her by the trainers and also cited the free opportunity given to her barangay. She vowed to start her own welding shop in two years.

Meanwhile, 55-year old Noe Guilaran, one of the oldest students in the group, is currently a barangay kagawad of Bula, who sought to learn the welding skills in order to help out his family and relatives.

According to lead trainer Lee Bangcoyo (right photo) , who currently teaches at CapSU Roxas Campus, the Bula batch taught them a number of lessons. They saw the interest of the students to learn the skills which then inspired them to prioritize teaching those with zero stock knowledge. Bangcoyo said once they were able to learn the skill, they (the trainers) sought that learned students assist them in teaching others. Such concept of apprenticeship virtually helped the students to learn better.

The graduation exercises for the new welders drew a number of insights from the guests. Among others, DOLE Provincial Head Ricardo Monegro urged the graduates to “build their skills” for some six months to one year first before they sell them to the rest of the world. Monegro also encouraged them to prioritize working in the country first. For him, working abroad should only be their second choice. Monegro urged the students association, named SMAW Sting to register their group with the DOLE office and take the association seriously as it can help them find jobs in the future. Gerel Ledesma, the 21-year-old president of the association, in turn, vowed to lead the group to good organization and fruition.

Negros-made shredders impress Zamboanga agri-tourists

By Vishia Mae Dominic Tolcidas

Regional Applied Communications

Photos by Vishia Mae Dominic Tolcidas

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental—A group of agri-tourists from Zamboanga said they were impressed at Negros-made shredders and post-harvest machinery being made at a foundry shop in this city.

Ahmad Nahul, leader of the 32-man delegation of government agriculturists, said they enjoyed their trip to Negros Occidental particularly their visit to RU Foundry and Eco Agri Park in Pahanocoy, Bacolod City because they saw up close how these world-class machines are manufactured and how they work.

“Back home, our farmers are already using the same shredders for waste management and post-harvest,” said Nahul, the regional integrated pest management coordinator of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 9 in Pagadian City.

Rosita Patangan of the municipality of Tukuran said she did not expect a visit to the foundry shop, with no less than the manufacturer himself Ramon Uy, Sr. giving a demonstration on how to operate the shredder correctly. Patangan, an agricultural technologist shared that the Camanga Farmers Association is a recipient of the same shredder months ago. “My farmers find this equipment an efficient partner in turning farm wastes into organic fertilizer. It makes their work fast and easy,” Patangan added.

Nahul said their farmers badly need these shredders not only to manage waste but also as a post-harvest facility particularly for cassava, a raw material for flour, and one of Zamboanga’s many crops aside from rice and corn. The training coordinator for cassava and PalayCheck, Nahul said that post-harvest facilities like this are scarce in our region. Only a few are into the sale of such equipment there. He said some farmers travel about 300 kilometers to South Cotabato (Region 12 SOCCSKSARGEN) in central Mindanao just to avail themselves of such facilities.

Zamboanga agri-tourists were briefed on the machine by shredder manufacturer Ramon Uy, Sr. (third from right) through an actual shredding demo with tree trunks (foreground).

“Now they express relief because of the shredder assistance from the DA Bureau of Soils and Water Management complete with training and technical support from RU,” he said.

The RU shredder, a multipurpose machine which has been in the market for 15 years, was adjudged the regional winner in the utility model category of the Visayas Islands Invention Contests and Exhibits in Iloilo City.

“We only give the best material for our shredders to ensure its usefulness to fellow farmers,” said Ramon Uy, Sr., president of the Occidental Negros Organic Producers and Retailers Association.

The delegation also toured the Philippine Rice Research Institute in Barangay Cansilayan, Murcia and the Buro-buro Vermi Farm in Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City, said Edna Garde, OPA public information officer and tour guide.

“They found out that PhilRice does not practice calendar spraying and is judicious in using chemical for rice production,” she said. In Buro-buro, they learned how to make bokashi organic fertilizer and vermicomposting, Garde added.

“We are happy to host tourists who are eager to learn about our experiences in organic farming,” Garde said. A landmark decision to make Negros Island the Organic Food Bowl of Asia was made five years ago by the Negros Occidental and Oriental Provincial Governments. “Organic farming helped pave the way for agri-tourism,” she said.

An RU staff demonstrates to Zamboanga agritourists how to make Eco-Charcoal that is chemical-free and safe for cooking.

Agri-tourism is a priority of NEGROS FIRST, the strategic development program of Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, Jr. NEGROS FIRST seeks to optimize the potentials of Negros Occidental as an agricultural province to ensure food sufficiency and agricultural productivity and generate livelihood.

This month, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan enacted the Provincial Sustainable Tourism Code of 2010 geared towards strengthening tourism development and promotion as another major industry of the province next to sugar. Provincial Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz, chairman of the SP Committee on Tourism, encourages the active participation of the private sector in agri-tourism for rural development.

Toured by Edna Garde (third from left), manager of FITS OPA Negros Occidental, Zamboanga agritourists, most of them first-timers in Negros, relish the vintage locomotive at Bacolod City’s Panaad Park.