BOHOL, August 10, 2021– The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Bohol equipped 22 technicians to train 1,050 recipients of the Calamansi Production, Vermicomposting and Vermiculture Production.
The training activity was conducted at the Reynas the Havens and Garden, Cogon, Tagbilaran City, Bohol from July 27 to 29, 2021.
“This hands-on training is very essential for our farmers, especially as the SAAD program ends in 2022,” shared Mr. Ian H. Egam, SAAD Bohol Provincial Coordinator.
He added, “The provided project intervention, coupled with our technical assistance, will help them have a sustainable food production for their families and community.”
The 3-day training was participated by 22 individuals; 5 selected SAAD farmer-leaders and representatives, 7 technicians from SAAD-covered local government units (LGUs), a technician from the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, 8 SAAD provincial staff, and a participant from Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) – Bohol.
3-day training of trainers
DA Bohol Experiment Station (BES) Retired Farm Superintendent II Mr. Domingo M. Oponda is the resource speaker for calamansi production. Among the highlights of the lecture on the first day of the training are Nursery Establishment and Management, Methods of Planting, Propagation, Lay-outing, and Cultural Management Practices of Calamansi.
A field visit and practicum at the Bohol-Agricultural Promotion Center (APC) was held where calamansi propagation (marcotting, grafting, and budding) and lay-outing using the 4×4 planting distance with the quincunx, square, and triangular methods were demonstrated.
“Calamansi is the best plant in the citrus family which can give a higher income to the farmers compared to other varieties. The farmers can generate income from the fruits, while the plant itself can be propagated and sold,” emphasized Mr. Oponda.
On the second day, the trainors learned about organic farming to support vegetable production in the province. PATCO Bohol Organic Agriculture Focal Person, Emmanuel Udtohan, gave the lecture on vermicomposting and vermiculture, while Bohol – APC Senior Research Specialist I Alfie R. Nuez taught the Natural Farming Technology System and Production of organic concoctions.
The participants applied their acquired knowledge by making different organic concoctions such as indigenous microorganisms, fermented fruit juice, fermented plant juice, fermented seaweed, fish amino acid, and organic herbal nutrients on the third day of training.
In FY 2021, SAAD Region 7 allocated a total budget of Php 8,357,470 for Vegetable Production where calamansi is part of the said intervention in Bohol. It targets to assist 1,050 farmers in planting 18,000 calamansi on 28.8 hectares estimated area of production. ###
Writer: Jolina T. Daño, Information Officer- DA-SAAD Region 7
Source: Ian H. Egam, Provincial Coordinator- DA-SAAD Bohol
Copy-editor: Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Communications Officer- SAAD NPMO
