By Onad Munalem
At least 36 rice farmers of barangay San Roque, Talibon recently received their certificates of completion during the closing program of their Palay Check Farmers Field School conducted at the barangay's public stage.
The seminar was designed to update help farmers of the new technology on tilling rice to increase yield to help uplift their living condition and encourage farmers to adopt and apply organic farming.
It is also done in consonance with the present program of the national government to fight difficulties that farmers face.
The program started on December 3 last year and clinched on April 15 this year, and required farmers to attend the training and hands-on activities at the demo farm.
Mayor Juanario Item initiated the program with the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), training arm of LGU-Talibon, facilitated the training headed by Rice Agricultural Technologist Ponciana Cruda, with the supported of its staff and Municipal Agricultural Officer Judith Garay.
The gab focused on the eight areas of the topics like proper selection of variety and seeds, correct land preparation, crop establishment on synchronous crops planting, and sufficient number of healthy seedlings, nutrient management, water management, pasts and diseases management and harvest management.
In the closing program, Rafael Crescencio led the opening prayer while Jocelyn Autentico led the singing of hymns.
Barangay Captain Pascualla Puricallan welcomed the guests, visitors and the barangayfolk, while Felicula Avenido and Hermogenes Auxtero gave their respective impression on the training.
Sangguniang Bayan Member Jose Wayne Evardo, chairperson of the SB Committee on Agriculture congratulated the graduates and extended his heartfelt gratitude to the farmers for attending the seminar.
He pointed out that rice tillers in the town must be equipped with updated technology on rice production, because they are considered as the backbone of the economy.
He clinched his talk with an appeal to the graduates to share their newly-acquired knowledge with other rice farmers.
Talibon Vice-Mayor Restituto Auxtero, who represented the mayor, lauded the farmers for their support and cooperation to all the undertakings of the LGU and encouraged all farmers in Talibon to attend capability-building activities that the local government shall undertake.
Cruda presented the candidates for graduation to Dr. Carolyn May Daquio, center director of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) office in Region 7.
In her message, Dr. Daquio happily congratulated the farmers, the LGU-Talibon and the responsible barangay and municipal officials who exerted efforts in supporting all projects of the government.
She pointed out that education is an investment and that farmers play a vital role in the nation's development and progress.