Lending Hands to People, Enriching their Communities

The 2011 Accomplishments Highlights 
of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Techno Gabay Team

By Eduardo Navarra, Team Leader and Niño Manaog, University Extension Associate; with reports from FITS Centers based in Dao, Dumalag, Ivisan, Jamindan, OPA Roxas, Panay, President Roxas, all of Capiz

The Techno Gabay (TG) of the Capiz State University has been very busy in 2011, conducting activities and helping implement programs that benefit the farmers and other clients, while being able to coordinate with fellow stakeholders and partners. The year’s accomplishments consisted of numerous skills and livelihood trainings, documentation assistance to varied groups, attendance in capability building initiatives and coordination activities and representations.

Representation and Coordination Activities

For the period in review, Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra represented CapSU as partner member agency and initiated various coordination activities. On January 21, Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra met with the managers of the seven FITS Centers including the newly established in 2010. At the OPA Capiz FITS Center in Roxas City, Navarra, along with Regional Techno Gabay (RTG) Coordinator Anna Mae Relingo, briefed the participants on the Techno Pinoy program of WESVARRDEC and PCAARRD. The PMA issued PCAARRD materials to FITS Centers.

Then on separate dates in February, Navarra visited and monitored the FITS Centers in his jurisdiction, particularly the Dumalag FITS Center and the Dao FITS Center. In various instances, and through text messages or mobile phone calls made with the FITS managers or personnel, Navarra updated and followed up their activities.

Then on March 23, CapSU again met with the FITS Center managers and personnel at the Dumalag FITS Center, Poblacion, Dumalag, Capiz. Six managers attended and some of them were joined by their Information Service Specialists or Technology Service Specialists (TSS). In Dumalag, Navarra stressed that the FITS centers’ personnel must make use of their logbook to record all activities being done in their offices and stations. Navarra said that these will be the basis of collating and consolidating their accomplishment report at the end of each year. Participants were also briefed on the details on WESVARRDEC’s upcoming Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart to be held in Iloilo City in May. In turn, the FITS managers updated the PMA on their plans, projects and activities.

In April, TG Team Leader Eduardo Navarra again led FITS Centers Visits and Monitoring, particularly Dao FITS Center where the organic agriculture promotion was widely bannered. The TG team also made coordination with all its FITS Centers for the first Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart of WESVARRDEC. To facilitate the FITS Centers participation in the summit, TG TL Eduardo Navarra asked the managers to prepare their commodities for exhibit at the summit while University Extension Associate Nino Manaog prepared the tarpaulins for display. Then, to prepare for the Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart Meeting, Eduardo Navarra and Nino Manaog met with the WESVARRDEC RTG at the UP Visayas Kitchenette, Iloilo City. In the same day, Navarra joined the Public Consultative Meeting on the Selection of Nominees for National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) at the Hotel in Reclamation Area, Bacolod City. Taking part in this consultation served as exposure for the said personnel to collaborate with the national organic groups such as NOAB.

On May 25–26, the CapSU team joined fellow PMAs from the region to stage the first ever Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) at the Amigo Plaza Mall, Iznart St. in Iloilo City. Led by Dr. Raul Ticar, and featuring the products of all seven FITS Centers from the province of Capiz, CapSU brought FITS Centers sample products and focus commodities including coco shell products, vermicast, abaca and engineered bamboo materials. Then, the Dumalag FITS Center was conferred the Best FITS Center Award for the region in 2011.

Based on the citation, FITS Dumalag scored high in organization and management, delivery of FITS Center Services, maintenance of minimum requirements, and resource generation and linkages, four criteria announced by WESVARRDEC.

Led by FITS Manager Ronelyn De Tomas, the Dumalag FITS Center—joined by its personnel including Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Randy Fancubila and CapSU TG Team Leader Eduardo Navarra—received a plaque of recognition and cash prize from UP Visayas Chancellor Minda Formacion, chair of the Regional Research and Development Coordinating Committee (RRDCC), WESVARRDEC Director Joseph Edward Idemne and Dr. Arturo Argañosa, officer-in-charge of Technology Outreach Promotion Division (TOPD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

According to its 2010 Annual Report, the proactive leadership of Dumalag FITS Manager Ronelyn de Tomas fully supported by the staff and the dynamic involvement of MS Randy Fancubila helped provide varied technical and agricultural services to some 3,500 farmers for the past year.

Since October 2010, the activities of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute have also been featured on thecapsumonitor.blogspot.com, a web log mechanism started by University Extension Associate Nino Manaog. Since its inception, the blogsite has been promoting the activities of the Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) of the University.

In early 2010, articles about the TG efforts published on this website caught the attention of Marissa Tuazon, coordinator for Western Visayas of Pakisama, or Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Masasaka based in Mambusao, Capiz to partner with CapSU. Tuazon eventually met with Mr. Navarra and brought the Mambusao farmers groups representing four barangays. Pakisama requested Navarra’s technical assistance on organic farming practices, while Manaog agreed to assist them in documenting their actvities. In April, Manaog joined the Pakisama’s study tour of muscovado processing plants in Antique and had a feature story published on Panay News.

On July 14, 2011, the two groups facilitated the meeting of President Magallanes and Pakisama Operations Manager Felix Zamar at the President’s Office in CapSU Central in Roxas City. The meeting allowed for the two key officials to work on future partnerships for their target clienteles.

In the succeeding months, TG TL Eduardo Navarra continued the visits to FITS centers and also attended important WESVARRDEC meetings. On September 6, CapSU also attended the 3rd Quarter Meeting Techno Gabay Group, West Visayas State University, Iloilo City. On September 16, CapSU joined the Dao FITS Center personnel and Dao LGU officials as they launched the Dao Farmers Day Celebration in Poblacion, Dao, Capiz.

During the program, Navarra introduced MS Ramon Peñalosa, Jr. of the OPA Negros Occidental FITS Center to the farmers, taking pride in the concerted efforts for the establishment of the said FITS Center. Navarra also facilitated the travel of RACG Coordinator Cora Navarra in her attendance to the WESVARRDEC meetings at the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic College in Estancia, Iloilo in September and at the Iloilo State College of Fisheries in Dingle, Iloilo in December.

Documentation Activities

Across the year, CapSU extended documentation assistance to several groups and partners for their reporting purposes. In March, the CapSU PMA Team led the Annual Report Writeshop for the Dumalag FITS Center and Jamindan FITS Center personnel at the Extension Institute in Poblacion, Mambusao, Capiz. Practically, the team assisted the FITS Centers in the actual writing of their Accomplishment Reports needed for the CapSU and WESVARRDEC reports.

In March, the TG Team led a visit to the farm of Igmedio Llamelo, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of Jamindan FITS Center in barangay Esperanza, Jamindan, Capiz. Manaog documented abaca nursery and propagation practices of MS Igmedio Llamelo of Jamindan FITS Center. The documented outputs were then used for CapSU's Annual Accomplishment Report.

In separate dates in April, the CapSU TG Team likewise helped the Dumalag FITS Center in the preparation and packaging of their documents needed in the WESVARRDEC's Search for Best FITS Center in 2011. University Extension Associate Nino Manaog worked with the Dumalag FITS Center personnel to consolidate and package all pertinent documents of the FITS Center for submission to the said regional selection.

In December, CapSU likewise covered the launching of the Bibal Integrated Farm and Tilapia Hatchery Training Center in barangay Magubilan, Panay, Capiz. The event was witnessed by Panay FITS Center personnel Director Larry Nacionales, LGU officials and Capiz local media. Along with other Capiz media, Manaog covered the launching event and featured former WESVARRDEC MS Rodolfo Bibal on Panay News.

Located in the middle of Bibal’s farm, the training center can accommodate some 200 persons at one time. The area also has a central view of the farm production where Bibal’s farming practices can be exhibited. In the near future, the center will also feature dormitory accommodations for farm tourists. Bibal is one of the proprietors of a sprawling 7.5 hectares of land where he grows rice and vegetables and raises tilapia and sizably profits from them. In these areas, Bibal practices intercropping, planting banana, ginger, alugbati, papaya, kalamansi, ampalaya, pepper, eggplant and string beans to maximize whatever area is left available.

Currently employing some 15 farmhands assigned to the fish ponds, vegetable plots and rice fields, Bibal’s integrated farm is one profitable venture. According to Juanito Hecita, Jr., manager of the Panay FITS Center, Mr. Rodolfo Bibal is likely to be identified as the official Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) for the FITS Center, once the selection for MS is in place.

On December 7–8, CapSU Extension Institute led by Dr. Raul Ticar joined the RTGP and RACG Joint 4th Quarter Meeting and Annual Report Writeshop in Aklan State University in Banga, Aklan.  There, Eduardo Navarra was joined by Bernie Protacio, information services specialist of Dumalag FITS Center, Carlos Vipinosa, technology services specialist of Jamindan FITS Center and Susan Dordas, manager of Dao FITS Center. The team presented their TG annual accomplishment reports to WESVARRDEC and also collated FITS Centers’ annual report documents needed for the 2011 Annual Accomplishment Report.

Toward the end of the year, CapSU helped the President Roxas FITS Center and the Panay FITS Center in gathering, sorting, writing and packaging their 2011 Accomplishment Reports. Manaog also facilitated the publication of the same output on the CapSU website and Panay News. 

Agricultural and Technical Services

On April 25–29, under the Dao Organic Agriculture Program (DOAP), CapSU worked with the Dao FITS Center in the conduct of organic lecture sessions to some 120 farmers from barangays Quinabcaban, Ilas Sur, Agtangway and Quinayuya. 

In May, the concerted efforts for some 500 farmers coming from barangays Nasunugan, Centro, Daplas, Lacaron, Poblacion, Mapulang Bato, Bita, Aganan, Duyoc, Matagnop. Navarra helped the Dao FITS Center in conducting organic lecture sessions and also facilitated actual demonstration of indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) and fertilizers preparations.

Then, on June 28, Navarra led a training lecture on organic farming and vegetable production to some 20 farmers representing barangays Ondoy, Matnog, Sta. Cruz, Ilaya and Basiao, all of Ivisan town in Capiz. Held at the Ivisan FITS Center in Poblacion, Ivisan, Capiz, the livelihood training formed part of the two-day Vegetable Production and Post-Harvest Handling Training led by Municipal Agriculturist Letecia Andrada and Agricultural Technologist Giovannie Lawag. Among others, Navarra briefed the participants on the disadvantages of commercial modern farming and stressed on the advantages of organic farming, stressing on how to best equip and protect the soil for quality production.

On July 14, 2011, Training Coordinator Navarra and University Extension Associate Manaog joined the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (Pakisama) to conduct a livelihood skills training on organic farming and natural farming practices to some 20 farmers of Pinay, Mambusao, Capiz at the Pinay Barangay Hall in Pinay, Mambusao, Capiz. Ms. Marissa Tuazon, Pakisama’s provincial coordinator for Capiz, along with Mr. Navarra, led the members of the Pinay Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (PFMPC) in preparing IMO concoctions which can be used as foliar fertilizers for their farms. Pinay Barangay Captain Bernardo Ponce and PFMPC President Reynaldo Cerelo also assisted their group in making the concoctions. Working in groups, the farmers sourced the locally available materials from the barangay and took part in preparing Fermented Plant Juice, Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) and Fish Amino Acid (FAA).

Since January 2010, CapSU has been extending its consultancy services to Tumalalud National High School students on vermiculture. Eduardo Navarra coordinated with Loreli Legada, research adviser of the Mambusao National High School in Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz on the conduct of her students’ research on producing vermicast. Navarra facilitated the preparation and production of vermiculture for students’ learning. Three seniors undertook the project which later won a regional award in a research competition sponsored by the Department of Education Region 6 in December.

In the first Regional Science and Technology Fair sponsored by the Regional Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) on October 15–16, 2011 in Iloilo City, the study titled “Growth of African Nightcrawlers and the Macronutrient Content and pH of Their Vermicompost Using Various Substrates” undertaken by Jayson Gula, Irene Francisco and Mark Stephen Guion, was named the Best Presenter Award and won First Place in the Cluster 2-SSC, Type B, Life Science Team Category. The award-winning study won over eight entries from across Western Visayas. The young researchers were assisted by Ms. Loreli Legada, Research Adviser and Mr. Rolando Ricardo, Jr., school principal.

To empower farmers by way of advocacy—this was the essence of the assistance extended by selected personnel of the Capiz State University (CapSU) during the Advocacy Training and Planning Workshop led by the Plan International (Plan) in cooperation with the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) held on August 1–3, 2011 at the Lawaan Garden Inn in Lawaan, Roxas City. The workshop convened some 20 participants composed of agricultural technicians and members of three farmer’s organizations representing three towns of Capiz, namely: the Maayon Community-based Agricultural Development Organization (MCBADO); the United Men and Women for Agricultural and Fishery Development (UMWAD) Pilar; and the Pontevedra Fishers and Farmers Development Organization, Inc. (PFiFaDO).

The Plan International and PhilDHRRA officers were assisted by CapSU personnel including Engr. Corazon Ditarro and Engr. Marty Delfin of CapSU Pontevedra’s agricultural engineering department and University Extension Associate Manaog. And on August 25–26, CapSU joined the same farmers groups organized by Plan International and PHilDHRRA—MCBADO, UMWAD Pilar and PFiFaDO—in their study tour of vermicomposting sites in Panit-an and Panay, Capiz. There, Navarra lectured on organics and also promoted the FITS Center, WESVARRDEC & PCAARD.

On November 9, a Livelihood Training on Bangus Deboning was held in Quiajo Barangay Hall, President Roxas, Capiz. Through the efforts of the President Roxas FITS Center personnel, Navarra met with Mayor Raymund Locsin and the barangay officials and women’s groups and established contacts there.

On October 28, 2011, TSS Ulysses Bendicio of the President Roxas FITS Center led the coconut toddy sugar production in barangay Pondol of the said town. In coordination with TG Team Leader Navarra, the initiative benefited some 30 constituents of the barangay including housewives and farmers.

On November 15–16, 2011, the President Roxas FITS Center hosted a two-day training cum study tour on Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) in Poblacion, President Roxas, Capiz.

Some 25 upland farmers from the barangays of Goce, Manoling, Badiangon, Carmencita and Bayuyan took advantage of the expertise of Benito Labindao, Agriculturist II and Lilia Peñaranda, chief of the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Center for Hillyland Development based in Malapad Cogon, Sigma, Capiz.

On November 21–23, Navarra promoted the FITS Center and the advocacies of WESVARRDEC to some 50 farmers and agricultural workers during the Farmers Field School-Palaycheck Agro Ecosystems Analysis (AESA) of the Panay FITS Center in Poblacion, Tico, Tanza Sur, all barangays of Panay, Capiz. The initiative was a collaboration of the Panay FITS Center personnel, PhilRice and agri-commercial company personnel.

On December 19, Navarra served as resource speaker during the Organic Agriculture lecture seminar sponsored by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region 6 held at the Maribert Resort in Lantangan, Pontevedra, Capiz. In the seminar, ATI regional personnel and Capiz farmers were taught on vegetables diseases and organic farming. On December 21–22, Navarra also helped President Roxas FITS Center in their conduct of the Vegetable Production Seminar at the Maribert Resort, Lantangan, Pontevedra, Capiz. There, CapSU promoted the FITS Center modality and WESVARRDEC and also led the preparation of IMOs and foliar fertilizers with 25 farmers and teachers.

Capability Building Activities

On August 3–5, 2011, CapSU’s Eduardo Navarra joined the 9th National Vegetable Congress sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and the National Vegetable Growers Association of the Philippines at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City.

Navarra networked with the FITS Center personnel who also joined the congress and led the group to see the farm of Greenbase owned by Alex Amor. Besides joining the activities of the national agricultural program, Navarra’s exposure gave valuable insights on organic farming from various exposures to the commercially owned demo farms featuring their best practices. In turn, Navarra shares them to his subsequent audience farmers.

On October 4–8, 2011, Eduardo Navarra joined the 2011 Agri Link at the World Trade Center in Manila. To learn other best practices around the country and the world, Navarra maximized the opportunity by attending lectures such as the one on malunggay production and also sought to learn the new trends and updates in organic farming production. Besides collecting various IEC materials, particularly on organic farming practices, Navarra also networked with various agriculture and extension workers who joined the national agri fair.

Leon FITS Center hosts WVSU TG cross-visitors

By Van Kristine Mendoza

Representative

Regional Applied Communications Group

West Visayas State University

The Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Leon, Iloilo recently hosted some 25 representatives of the Techno Gabay (TG) Team from the West Visayas State University (WVSU) at the Leon FITS Center Hall in Poblacion, Leon, Iloilo. The visiting team consisted of managers and staff of WVSU’s member FITS Centers, their Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) and representatives from the WVSU, their partner member agency.

“We may be a new FITS Center but we are working hard to build our image,” Municipal Agriculturist Magdalena Capilastique said in her speech.

For his part, Leon Mayor Rolito Cajilig said that the changing climate and the environmental crises pose threats to the farmers, the town’s major sector. According to Cajilig, Leon is an agricultural highland. Only ten percent of its 14,000 hectares is flat. Farming is Leon’s primary livelihood. Of the 85 barangays, 68 are prone to floods, landslide and calamities. “We have no choice but fight poverty,” Cajilig said. Because the town draws income from farming, Mayor Rolito Cajilig supports efforts related to it.

The local government of Leon has also been promoting Bucari, a forested area 24 kilometers from the poblacion which can serve as an eco- or agri-tourism site. Leon has also been marketing organic vegetables and its “super mangoes.” According Leon FITS Center Manager Feljean Cagape, their produce are called super mangoes because they are much sweeter than any mangoes in Panay.

Leon mangoes are found to have higher fructose content than the Guimaras mangoes. Their sweet taste is attributed to the town’s soil condition and topography. Cagape said that Leon’s soil salinity is much lower than that of Guimaras.

As part of the One Town, One Product (OTOP) program of Leon, mangoes are promoted by local government in their own community. Couples asking to be married by the mayor are asked to bring a mango seedling to the ceremony. All coupled wed by the local government are required to plant the mangoes and cultivate them in their households.

At the end of the welcome program, the cross-visitors were hosted to a vegetable greenhouse located in the municipality.

A DAY IN THE FARM (see above photo). The WVSU Techno Gabay team visits a vegetable farm in their first Cross-Visit to the Leon FITS Center in Leon, Iloilo. As part of the WESVARRDEC culture, study tours such as this serve not only as avenues for information and knowledge sharing but also monitoring mechanism for the consortium.

Meet MS Job Aranda, the coconut farmer

By Van Kristine Mendoza

Representative

Regional Applied Communications Group (RACG)

West Visayas State University

MS Job Aranda

Venturing into the coconut industry is hard but it gives enormous rewards to the hard worker.

This has been proven true by Mr. Job T. Aranda, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Tubungan, Iloilo.

On August 16, 2011, through the coordination of West Visayas State University with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) who gave the grant, MS Aranda hosted the Science and Technology-Based Farm (STBF) on Coconut Field Day in his two-hectare coconut plantation at Sitio Durog, Lanag Sur in Tubungan, Iloilo.

Aranda’s coconut field day gathered the farmers from the barangays of Tubungan, Iloilo and representatives of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).

Supported by the officials of the Municipality of Tubungan and staff of WVSU University Research and Development Center (URDC), MS Aranda’s Field Day featured a program about the Coconut Science and Technology-Based Farm Project and tour of the coco coir factory.


In his speech, Tubungan Mayor Vicente Gargaritano, Jr. said “People want to see first in order to believe. We are all here so others can replicate and practice the technologies that our MS has been doing.”

The STBF Field Day is designed to promote the benefits of science and technology to the farmers and demonstrate the interventions by the MS in his farm.

Under the STBF grant, MS Aranda introduced a number of interventions to rehabilitate his coconut farm. First, to clear the entire plantation, Aranda sought to get rid of rats in his coconut trees by cutting off the branches where they pass from one tree to another. Second, Aranda employed ring weeding and applied fertilizer. Aranda used salt and urea as fertilizer and asked other farmers to do the same three times a year. Third, he made sure that the rat guard is installed and a perimeter fence is constructed. Fourth, he planted ampalaya, camote, peanuts, and eggplant between the coconut trees to facilitate intercropping. Next, he made sure that irrigation of the intercrop and coconut trees are properly built. And finally, he moved to practice pest control which included getting rid of beetle rhinoceros.


After his retirement from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, MS Aranda ventured into farming in 2003. In 2007, he was chosen MS for coconut of Tubungan FITS Center. He helped establish a cooperative to build and operate a coco fiber factory. Because of his efforts and involvement in the coconut industry, he was awarded by the Iloilo Provincial Government Outstanding Coconut Farmer in 2009.

However, just like the biblical character Job, his namesake, MS Aranda had his share of difficulty. In 2009, Aranda said, “we were deprived of things beyond our control because of the El Niño Phenomenon. I could not apply fertilizer to his crops because the heat was just too much.” Add to the high temperature the increasing number of unproductive trees in his farm.

But he did not easily give in. Consequently, Aranda increased production from 30 nuts to 140 nuts or trees per year. He did not only maximize land use by intercropping with vegetables but also increased raw materials for coco fiber production and provided appropriate technologies to other coconut farmers. He also helped provide livelihood for mothers working in the coco coir factory and thereby helped increase farm income.

At the Iloilo Horti 2010, coco coir products from
FITS Tubungan were featured by WESVARRDEC.

Just like the ideal farmer scientist, MS Aranda takes part in various forums and trainings in coconut production together with other stakeholders in the coconut industry. In these opportunities, his knowledge is also enhanced. Through the years of engaging into coconut production, MS Aranda’s farm has become a venue for farm research and cross visits by other MS, farmers, students, and agricultural technicians.

“Farming is simply my passion,” MS Aranda says.

Aside from the coconut plantation, Aranda also farms five hectares of rice land. And perhaps not content to rest on his laurels, the tireless farmer practitioner even hopes to engage into Darag native chicken industry in the future.

PCARRD meets with Negros FITS centers on STBF

By Denesa C. Lamique, Techno Gabay Team Leader

& Jethro B. Dagunan, Regional Applied Communications Group Representative

To facilitate the release of funds for the Science and Technology-Based Farms (STBF) for the Magsasaka Siyentista of the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers based in Escalante City and Negros Bacolod City, both of Negros Occidental, Dr. Democrito Magpantay, head of the technology packaging unit of the Technology Outreach and Promotion Division of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), led the Inception Meeting with the members of said beneficiaries recently in Bacolod City.

Along with Prof. Joseph Edward Idemne, WESVARRDEC Director; Dr. Anna Mae Relingo, TGP Coordinator and Mr. Nicolas Banquero, Techno Gabay Program staff, and Dianne Cabello of PCARRD, Magpantay met with the members of the OPA Negros Occidental and Escalante City FITS Centers including MS Ramon Peñalosa and MS Jose Vicente Alemany, FITS Manager Edna Garde, their technology services specialist, RACG and RMIS representatives.

Among others, Magpantay’s team briefed the participants on the Science and Technology (S&T) intervention provided by PCARRD. Aside from providing the guidelines on the establishment of S& T Based Farms, pertinent policies, rules and products of the STBF mechanism, Magpantay also advised WESVARRDEC and the FITS centers on how to best manage the funds provided for said projects.

ASU sets directions for its FITS centers in 2011

By Sally Villasis

Regional Applied Communications Representative

Aklan State University

To sustain the partnership between the partner member agency (PMA) and the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center, the Aklan State University (ASU), member agency of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources and Research Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), convened the staff of its FITS Centers in Aklan and Antique for the second quarter meeting and consultation-workshop on July 8, 2011 at the ASU Review Center in Banga, Aklan.

In his speech, ASU President Danilo E. Abayon commended to the FITS staff and the local government units for their contribution in the achievement of ASU as WESVARRDEC’s Outstanding Partner Member Agency for the second time.

Abayon stressed that the direction of ASU id now geared to become a strong University. In particular, for ASU to excel in agriculture, it will get into the mainstream for development. For Abayon, the award received by ASU is dedicated to the people it assisted, because the people have accepted and adopted and made into action what the University has.

The newly installed ASU president said that ASU will focus its efforts on research on the commodities identified in Aklan. Abayon believes that a university should involve wholly most on knowledge generation and it can only be done through full engagement in research and commitment in extension work.

ASU Techno Gabay Team Leader Dr. Clyde G. Abayon led the team including Dr. Lelisa J. Teodosio, Regional Management Information System Group (RMIS) representative and Regional Applied Communication Group (RAC) Representative Salvacion R. Villasis and the alternates, Prof. Carmenchita M. Tumaca, Mr. Louie G. Garcia and Mr. Arthur E. Jizmundo.

The team met with FITS managers, technology service specialists, information service specialists and Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of Altavas, Banga, Ibajay, Nabas, New Washington and Numancia in Aklan and Libertad in Antique.

After Dr. Anna Mae C. Relingo, WESVARRDEC Regional Techno Gabay Coordinator, presented the framework of the Pinoy S&T Services, Dr. Abayon expressed her appreciation to all the FITS staff and Magsasaka Siyentista for their support and cooperation which contributed to the award conferred on the University.

Each FITS center was given the opportunity to report their accomplishments for the second quarter and the Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) also shared what they have done for the second quarter. Among others, MS Amelia Rentillo of Banga FITS Center shared her experiences on product promotion especially during festivals, fairs and exhibits. MS Neri Into of Libertad FITS Center reported on her ongoing Science and Technology Based Farm on Ginger Ale Processing.

For her part, Dr. Teodosio presented the highlights of the Regional Management Information System and reminded the FITS staff to submit their farmers’ profiles and their monthly and quarterly reports.

RACG Representative Villasis shared the highlights of the RACG second quarter meeting held at FITS Dumalag in Capiz. Urging the FITS staff to continue producing news articles on FITS activities, IEC materials of the focus commodity of their FITS center and MS practices, Villasis also enjoined them to promote FITS activities and MS practices and technologies through the “ASU Reports,” a regular feature program aired over Kalibo Cable Television.

At this writing, the FITS centers and MS of ASU have been scheduled for interview features.

CapSU TG team leader trains Ivisan farmers on vegetable, organic farming

By Niño Manaog

University Extension Associate

Capiz State University

On June 28, 2011, Training Coordinator Eduardo Navarra of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute led a training lecture on organic farming and vegetable production to some 20 farmers representing barangays Ondoy, Matnog, Sta. Cruz, Ilaya and Basiao, all of Ivisan town in Capiz.

Held at the Ivisan Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in Poblacion, Ivisan, Capiz, the livelihood training formed part of the two-day Vegetable Production and Post-Harvest Handling Training led by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) of Ivisan under the leadership of Municipal Agriculturist Letecia Andrada and Agricultural Technologist Giovannie Lawag.

Among others, Eduardo Navarra briefed the participants on the disadvantages of commercial modern farming and stressed on the advantages of organic farming, stressing on how to best equip and protect the soil for quality production.

According to Navarra, commercial modern farming using too much chemicals and pesticides not only depletes the soil quality but also harms human beings. In turn, he stressed on the benefits that farmers would get from practicing organic farming technologies.

Navarra, CapSU Techno Gabay team leader, highlighted the projects of Ramon Peñalosa, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of fits opa Negros Occidental who practices integrated natural farming and produces his own insecticides, pesticides and similar other technologies in his farms in Victorias City and Manapla, Negros Occidental.

Navarra also suggested that farmers should make their own foliar fertilizers like Dao FITS Center in Dao, Capiz whose focus commodity (indigenous microorganism concoctions) very well complements and assists organic farming.

Navarra also urged the participants to form a group of farmers in their little communities who would focus on producing organic vegetables and crops because there will always be demand for them. He likewise assured that the local government of Ivisan led by Mayor Felipe Neri Yap will always welcome such initiatives if only to serve the members of the locality.

The lecture orientation, along with some demonstration of some farming materials and technologies, drew favorable response from a number of farmers.

Sixty-year-old Danilo Obrigue who maintains some 1.5 hectares of palay and 4,000 sq.m. planted to vegetables said he plans to try organic farming because it proves economical and friendly to people’s health. The former barangay captain of Ondoy said that vegetable growers in their locality were inspired by the type of farms they saw in Palayamanan in barangay Mianay that they would want to replicate it in their own barangay. For Obrigue, this is now the time to inspire others to pursue organic farming.

Seventy-one-year-old Mercedes Aldea, who has been farming in Sitio Balangasan in Ondoy since 1964, saw the ease in practicing organic farming. It is pasil (easy) because it makes use of materials that can be found in our very surroundings. She herself uses rice straws and chicken manure for compost and fertilizer and plans to maintain the same in her one-half hectare land planted to palay and banana. Aldea also produces patola and vegetables which she periodically sells in Ivisan market.

Meanwhile, 54-yr-old Avelina Benosa who has a 9,000 sq.m.- rented piece of land planted to coconut, banana and native ginger also wants to produce vegetables. For this purpose she considers sustaining their farm using both commercial and organic farming. For Benosa, she would adapt any practice that would best add to her productivity.

The two-day initiative also covered lectures and demonstrations on seed selection and site selection, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, post-harvest handling practices and marketing.