FARMERS in Toboso, Negros Occidental are optimistic of achieving higher corn production now that they have been equipped with skills and knowledge on new farming technologies.
According to Amy Parillo, area coordinator for Toboso of the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas’ Special Program for Agricultural Development, a total of 156 participants attended last week’s six batches of one-day trainings.
She said all farmer-partners are encouraged to undergo SAAD trainings for them to become competitive in their agri-corn production and income.
All of the participants came from the town’s upland villages who received corn production intervention packages.
“The learning and skills that our recipients got from the training would help them increase their corn yield. Despite the pandemic, they were all motivated to attend the training and that’s a good point,” Parillo said.
Three corn specialists from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental served as resource persons – Agriculturist II Victor Llassos, Agricultural Technician Camille Cahilig and Agriculturist I Meriam Defensor Era.
The topics discussed were integrated nutrient management and integrated pest management, cultural management and post-harvest and soil health and fertilizers computation.
For her part, Rossel Salazar of Barangay Bandila Farmers Association expressed her appreciation to the DA-SAAD 6 for the support provided to them to broaden their knowledge and skills.
“Kanami gid sang mga proyekto kag trainings nga ginahatag sang SAAD sa amon. Tungod sa training, napaabut gid sa amon ang insakto nga pag-apply sang abuno sa amon mais kag tanan nga hilimuon para magnami ang amon pagtanum,” Salazar said.
To note, the SAAD program allocated a total of P3,407,400 to beneficiaries in Toboso under FY 2021. The fund was intended for social preparatory activities and trainings and intervention packages such as production inputs, post-harvest equipment and machineries.
With the collaboration with the local government unit of Negros Occidental the six batches of trainings were conducted on the following dates: April 29, April 30 and May 3, 5, 6 and 7, 2021 Corn Production Training.(with SAAD/PN)
