To ensure the distribution of quality plant materials in the province of Palawan, Department of Agriculture (DA) in MiMaRoPa Region through its Regulatory Division conducted training on Plant Nursery Accreditation and Material Certification with Management and Propagation Techniques at the Palawan Research Experiment Station (PRES), Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, on July 11-13, 2017.
There was a total of 43 attendees in the activity composed of plant nursery operators (PNOs), private individuals, evaluators and inspector. They were taught about the Bureau and Plant Industry’s (BPI) policy and guidelines on plant accreditation, as well as plant material management, establishment and propagation techniques by Dr. Andrea Inocencio, Supervising Agriculturist, BPI Regulatory Division. While the policy and guidelines on Plant Material Certification were discussed by Ms. Evelyn Tan, Senior Agriculturist, BPI National Seed Quality Control Service. National Seed Industry Council Registration for Fruit Trees and Plantation Crop were also discussed by Elvira Morales, Agriculturist II, BPI.
The attendees were presented with the different advantages of having their plant material accredited by the BPI. Those are a) the privilege for identified scion/plant propagules from the government registered scion groves; b) access to technical assistance and supervision; c) build up of network to sell the produce; and d) access to government in terms of marketing.
At the same time, buyers will be guaranteed that the planting materials or crop varieties are not just high quality but also true to type and free from pests and diseases.
Before the discussion begun, attendees and speakers were welcomed by the DA-PRES Officer-In-Charge---Librada Fuertes, Senior Science Research Specialist. She emphasized the importance of plant nursery accreditation, especially now that Palawan is influx by tourists. PNOs have the duty to offer guaranteed safe crop varieties to feed the tourists and its community.
Attendees were also welcomed by Mr. Vicente Binasahan, Palawan-North Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer. He sees that this training would strengthen the partnership between the government and non-government organization.
On the last part of the training, Mr. Efren Viterbo, Provincial Plant Nursery Evaluator, demonstrated the right asexual propagation for rubber, cacao, kalamansi and cashew. The activity encouraged some farmers to share their techniques on plant propagation.
As the activity comes to a close, DA-MiMaRoPa Regulatory Division headed by Helen Aceret thanked the guests and participants for a successful event. The training encouraged seven (7) PNOs to be accredited and two (2) for renewal of their certification.
