The Department of Agriculture MiMaropa Plant Nursery Section under Regulatory Division conducted a Training on Plant Nursery Accreditation, Management and Propagation Techniques at Agricultural Training Center- Regional Training Center (ATI- RTC), Barcenaga, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on March 22-23, 2017.
The purpose of the training is to know the importance of the Plant nursery accreditation and techniques to produce good quality of nursery seedlings to produce high income.
This was headed by Mrs. Helen O. Aceret, Regulatory Division’s Chief, and staff.
The 2-day training consists of lecture and discussion on the first day plus tour and hands-on activity on the following day.
According to Aceret, the purpose of the training is for the potential nursery operators in MiMaRoPa to be accredited to be a player in bidding. Hence, for the seedlings to be bought by the department in the future.
The 19 participants of the said training were from the different potential nursery operators from Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Romblon and Marinduque.
The organizers chose Oriental Mindoro because the province has three (3) certified nursery operators in the region.
Mr. Noli P. Garcia, the speaker from Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Manila discussed the things to consider before accrediting a nursery farm. He also demonstrated on how to graft plant which is important in propagating seedlings. Lastly, he discussed the benefits if their nursery farm will be certified. According to Garcia, the benefits of being certified and accredited are: 1) the operator will be able to be qualified for the bid in the department. 2) they will be able to set their prices on their own
On the following day, the participants got a chance to visit Aurelio B. Escala Plant Nursery Farm owned by Mr. Aurelio B. Escala, one of the certified nursery operators in the region located at Brgy. San Isidro, Victoria to see his farm and to learn his practices on different kinds of grafting.
Graduation rites and certificates were given after hands-on activity.
The participants were grateful with the result of the training. Thus, they would like to have more trainings for them to become a certified nursery operator.
