INDANG, Cavite ─ A farmers’ training on the package of technology (POT) of tissue- cultured lakatan banana production was held on July 25 at the Cavite State University (CvSU).
The Southern Tagalog Agriculture and Resources Reseach and Development Consortium (STARRDEC), Cavite Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA), Cavite Modern Growers Incorporated (CMGI), and CvSU sponsored the training.
The training was conducted in line with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development’s (PCAARRD) Community-based Science and Technology-based Farm (CBSTBF) Lakatan Banana Project in Cavite.
It aimed to provide the participants thorough knowledge in nurturing lakatan tissue-cultured plantlets into full-grown and healthy banana plants that are capable of producing bigger bunches of quality fruits weighing more than 20 kg.
Experts from CvSU and OPA trained the farmers on improved management practices, specifically on banana tissue culture management, nursery and field management, control of pest and diseases, postharvest handling, and on marketing. In addition, farmers were oriented on the banana industry situation in Cavite.
PCAARRD’s CBSTBF modality was presented in the event.
Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Eddie Silan shared that by following the recommended POT, a banana farmer in Cavite can produce lakatan banana with yield and quality comparable to the fruits harvested in Davao.
The activity culminated with the distribution of ready-to–plant, tissue-cultured lakatan banana plantlets to Municipal Agricultural Officers and farmer leader representatives from the municipalities of Indang, Mendez, Maragundon, Amadeo, Gen. Aguinaldo, Alfonso, Silang, Magallanes and Trece Martirez in Cavite.
During the closing program, Provincial Administrator for External Affairs Efren Nazareno, STARRDEC Director Edna Vida, and MS Silan were one in thanking PCAARRD for the sustained technical and financial support in the food production program of Cavite.
Nazareno, who represented Cavite Governor Janvic Remulla, challenged the farmers to make use of their learnings for their betterment and for the province as well. He also related that the governor intends to make Cavite a world-class province.
Cavite Provincial Agricultural Officer Mario C. Silan, in turn, assured the participants of the continuous support of the PAO in providing the farmers with the necessary assistance and services particularly in providing high-quality seeds and planting materials for banana production and other high-value crops to improve their productivity and income.
Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, director of PCAARRD’s Technology Transfer and Promotion Division , commended the initiative and effort of the partner agencies in ensuring the success of the project.
He also said that PCAARRD is committed to further support the provision of tissue-cultured planting materials as well as promote other relevant technologies in wider applications in the province.
Further, Carlos lauded the success of the Techno Gabay Program in Cavite particularly the efforts of all the MS to excel in their chosen commodity.
In recognition of this success, he mentioned that around 100 participants from the Global Forum on Rural Advisory Service will be visiting Cavite this September 2012.