The Municipal Agricultural Office of Roxas, Palawan produced 66 graduates from its Farmers Field School (FFS) on Corn Production and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The graduates were from Barangay San Jose and Tagumpay.
The Department of Agriculture-MiMaRoPa Region through its staff from Corn and Cassava Program and Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Section (RAFIS) graced the commencement exercise on March 21, 2017 in Bgy. San Jose, Roxas, Palawan . Representatives from the Municipal Office of Roxas and Provincial Agriculture Office were also among the guests of honor.
During the ceremony, the guests including the Regional Corn and Cassava Coordinator, Engr. Ma. Christine Inting challenged the graduates to persistently apply the knowledge they acquire from the FFS. The regional coordinator also assured the farmers that DA would support them to improve their production this year by providing the planting materials, machineries and trainings they need. In fact, a four-wheel tractor has already been turned over to the municipality which is ready for them to use.
“Madali po sa amin mag-request, nandito si Ma’am Nitz (Provincial Corn Coordinator) at Ma’am Alice (Municipal Corn Coordinator), nakaantabay po kami. Ang mga interventions po na ito ay para sainyong lahat….At least ngayon po makakapag-isip na kayo kung paanu kayo magsisimula,” Engr. Inting said in her message.
The graduates received certificates of participation and some surprises, such as hats and arm sleeves. The surprise gifts were given during the question and answer portion facilitated by the Corn and Cassava Program and RAFIS.
Students also presented a skit demonstrating the insect’s life cycle, a showcase of their knowledge regarding IPM.
The FFS is the DA’s program to empower the farmers in the country through learning new techniques on IPM and farming.
The FFS is conducted for six months in a classroom setting where students are required to attend every week. The FFS in Roxas lasted from May 31, 2016 to September 17, 2016 which is a whole cropping season for corn. The schedule gave the students an opportunity to have hands on experience of the lessons they learned from the Municipality’s Agricultural Technicians.
One of the students shared that they experienced to do Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA) where they go in the field early morning to gather agronomical data such as different kinds of harmful and helpful insects for corn.
“Natutunan namin kung ano yung mga harmful and helpful insects sa aming taniman, dati hindi namin alam. Ngayon, hindi na kami basta-basta maglalagay ng pesticide sa aming pananim para di maapektuhan ang mga helpful insects,” shared by Jaime Alvarez, 61.
Currently, this is the third batch of FFS in the municipality.
