By Eduardo Navarra, Team Leader and Niño Manaog, University Extension Associate; with reports from FITS Centers based in Dao, Dumalag, Ivisan, Jamindan, OPA Roxas, Panay, President Roxas, all of Capiz
The Techno Gabay (TG) of the Capiz State University has been very busy in 2011, conducting activities and helping implement programs that benefit the farmers and other clients, while being able to coordinate with fellow stakeholders and partners. The year’s accomplishments consisted of numerous skills and livelihood trainings, documentation assistance to varied groups, attendance in capability building initiatives and coordination activities and representations.
Representation and Coordination Activities
For the period in review, Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra represented CapSU as partner member agency and initiated various coordination activities. On January 21, Techno Gabay Team Leader Eduardo Navarra met with the managers of the seven FITS Centers including the newly established in 2010. At the OPA Capiz FITS Center in Roxas City, Navarra, along with Regional Techno Gabay (RTG) Coordinator Anna Mae Relingo, briefed the participants on the Techno Pinoy program of WESVARRDEC and PCAARRD. The PMA issued PCAARRD materials to FITS Centers.
Then on separate dates in February, Navarra visited and monitored the FITS Centers in his jurisdiction, particularly the Dumalag FITS Center and the Dao FITS Center. In various instances, and through text messages or mobile phone calls made with the FITS managers or personnel, Navarra updated and followed up their activities.
Then on March 23, CapSU again met with the FITS Center managers and personnel at the Dumalag FITS Center, Poblacion, Dumalag, Capiz. Six managers attended and some of them were joined by their Information Service Specialists or Technology Service Specialists (TSS). In Dumalag, Navarra stressed that the FITS centers’ personnel must make use of their logbook to record all activities being done in their offices and stations. Navarra said that these will be the basis of collating and consolidating their accomplishment report at the end of each year. Participants were also briefed on the details on WESVARRDEC’s upcoming Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart to be held in Iloilo City in May. In turn, the FITS managers updated the PMA on their plans, projects and activities.
In April, TG Team Leader Eduardo Navarra again led FITS Centers Visits and Monitoring, particularly Dao FITS Center where the organic agriculture promotion was widely bannered. The TG team also made coordination with all its FITS Centers for the first Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart of WESVARRDEC. To facilitate the FITS Centers participation in the summit, TG TL Eduardo Navarra asked the managers to prepare their commodities for exhibit at the summit while University Extension Associate Nino Manaog prepared the tarpaulins for display. Then, to prepare for the Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart Meeting, Eduardo Navarra and Nino Manaog met with the WESVARRDEC RTG at the UP Visayas Kitchenette, Iloilo City. In the same day, Navarra joined the Public Consultative Meeting on the Selection of Nominees for National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) at the Hotel in Reclamation Area, Bacolod City. Taking part in this consultation served as exposure for the said personnel to collaborate with the national organic groups such as NOAB.
On May 25–26, the CapSU team joined fellow PMAs from the region to stage the first ever Regional Techno Gabay Summit and Technomart of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC) at the Amigo Plaza Mall, Iznart St. in Iloilo City. Led by Dr. Raul Ticar, and featuring the products of all seven FITS Centers from the province of Capiz, CapSU brought FITS Centers sample products and focus commodities including coco shell products, vermicast, abaca and engineered bamboo materials. Then, the Dumalag FITS Center was conferred the Best FITS Center Award for the region in 2011.
Based on the citation, FITS Dumalag scored high in organization and management, delivery of FITS Center Services, maintenance of minimum requirements, and resource generation and linkages, four criteria announced by WESVARRDEC.
Led by FITS Manager Ronelyn De Tomas, the Dumalag FITS Center—joined by its personnel including Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Randy Fancubila and CapSU TG Team Leader Eduardo Navarra—received a plaque of recognition and cash prize from UP Visayas Chancellor Minda Formacion, chair of the Regional Research and Development Coordinating Committee (RRDCC), WESVARRDEC Director Joseph Edward Idemne and Dr. Arturo Argañosa, officer-in-charge of Technology Outreach Promotion Division (TOPD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).
According to its 2010 Annual Report, the proactive leadership of Dumalag FITS Manager Ronelyn de Tomas fully supported by the staff and the dynamic involvement of MS Randy Fancubila helped provide varied technical and agricultural services to some 3,500 farmers for the past year.
Since October 2010, the activities of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Extension Institute have also been featured on thecapsumonitor.blogspot.com, a web log mechanism started by University Extension Associate Nino Manaog. Since its inception, the blogsite has been promoting the activities of the Research, Development and Extension Center (RDEC) of the University.
In early 2010, articles about the TG efforts published on this website caught the attention of Marissa Tuazon, coordinator for Western Visayas of Pakisama, or Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Masasaka based in Mambusao, Capiz to partner with CapSU. Tuazon eventually met with Mr. Navarra and brought the Mambusao farmers groups representing four barangays. Pakisama requested Navarra’s technical assistance on organic farming practices, while Manaog agreed to assist them in documenting their actvities. In April, Manaog joined the Pakisama’s study tour of muscovado processing plants in Antique and had a feature story published on Panay News.
On July 14, 2011, the two groups facilitated the meeting of President Magallanes and Pakisama Operations Manager Felix Zamar at the President’s Office in CapSU Central in Roxas City. The meeting allowed for the two key officials to work on future partnerships for their target clienteles.
In the succeeding months, TG TL Eduardo Navarra continued the visits to FITS centers and also attended important WESVARRDEC meetings. On September 6, CapSU also attended the 3rd Quarter Meeting Techno Gabay Group, West Visayas State University, Iloilo City. On September 16, CapSU joined the Dao FITS Center personnel and Dao LGU officials as they launched the Dao Farmers Day Celebration in Poblacion, Dao, Capiz.
Documentation Activities
Across the year, CapSU extended documentation assistance to several groups and partners for their reporting purposes. In March, the CapSU PMA Team led the Annual Report Writeshop for the Dumalag FITS Center and Jamindan FITS Center personnel at the Extension Institute in Poblacion, Mambusao, Capiz. Practically, the team assisted the FITS Centers in the actual writing of their Accomplishment Reports needed for the CapSU and WESVARRDEC reports.
In March, the TG Team led a visit to the farm of Igmedio Llamelo, Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of Jamindan FITS Center in barangay Esperanza, Jamindan, Capiz. Manaog documented abaca nursery and propagation practices of MS Igmedio Llamelo of Jamindan FITS Center. The documented outputs were then used for CapSU's Annual Accomplishment Report.
In separate dates in April, the CapSU TG Team likewise helped the Dumalag FITS Center in the preparation and packaging of their documents needed in the WESVARRDEC's Search for Best FITS Center in 2011. University Extension Associate Nino Manaog worked with the Dumalag FITS Center personnel to consolidate and package all pertinent documents of the FITS Center for submission to the said regional selection.
Located in the middle of Bibal’s farm, the training center can accommodate some 200 persons at one time. The area also has a central view of the farm production where Bibal’s farming practices can be exhibited. In the near future, the center will also feature dormitory accommodations for farm tourists. Bibal is one of the proprietors of a sprawling 7.5 hectares of land where he grows rice and vegetables and raises tilapia and sizably profits from them. In these areas, Bibal practices intercropping, planting banana, ginger, alugbati, papaya, kalamansi, ampalaya, pepper, eggplant and string beans to maximize whatever area is left available.
Currently employing some 15 farmhands assigned to the fish ponds, vegetable plots and rice fields, Bibal’s integrated farm is one profitable venture. According to Juanito Hecita, Jr., manager of the Panay FITS Center, Mr. Rodolfo Bibal is likely to be identified as the official Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) for the FITS Center, once the selection for MS is in place.
On December 7–8, CapSU Extension Institute led by Dr. Raul Ticar joined the RTGP and RACG Joint 4th Quarter Meeting and Annual Report Writeshop in Aklan State University in Banga, Aklan. There, Eduardo Navarra was joined by Bernie Protacio, information services specialist of Dumalag FITS Center, Carlos Vipinosa, technology services specialist of Jamindan FITS Center and Susan Dordas, manager of Dao FITS Center. The team presented their TG annual accomplishment reports to WESVARRDEC and also collated FITS Centers’ annual report documents needed for the 2011 Annual Accomplishment Report.
Toward the end of the year, CapSU helped the President Roxas FITS Center and the Panay FITS Center in gathering, sorting, writing and packaging their 2011 Accomplishment Reports. Manaog also facilitated the publication of the same output on the CapSU website and Panay News.
Agricultural and Technical Services
On April 25–29, under the Dao Organic Agriculture Program (DOAP), CapSU worked with the Dao FITS Center in the conduct of organic lecture sessions to some 120 farmers from barangays Quinabcaban, Ilas Sur, Agtangway and Quinayuya.
In May, the concerted efforts for some 500 farmers coming from barangays Nasunugan, Centro, Daplas, Lacaron, Poblacion, Mapulang Bato, Bita, Aganan, Duyoc, Matagnop. Navarra helped the Dao FITS Center in conducting organic lecture sessions and also facilitated actual demonstration of indigenous microorganisms (IMOs) and fertilizers preparations.
Then, on June 28, Navarra led a training lecture on organic farming and vegetable production to some 20 farmers representing barangays Ondoy, Matnog, Sta. Cruz, Ilaya and Basiao, all of Ivisan town in Capiz. Held at the Ivisan FITS Center in Poblacion, Ivisan, Capiz, the livelihood training formed part of the two-day Vegetable Production and Post-Harvest Handling Training led by Municipal Agriculturist Letecia Andrada and Agricultural Technologist Giovannie Lawag. Among others, Navarra briefed the participants on the disadvantages of commercial modern farming and stressed on the advantages of organic farming, stressing on how to best equip and protect the soil for quality production.
On July 14, 2011, Training Coordinator Navarra and University Extension Associate Manaog joined the Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (Pakisama) to conduct a livelihood skills training on organic farming and natural farming practices to some 20 farmers of Pinay, Mambusao, Capiz at the Pinay Barangay Hall in Pinay, Mambusao, Capiz. Ms. Marissa Tuazon, Pakisama’s provincial coordinator for Capiz, along with Mr. Navarra, led the members of the Pinay Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (PFMPC) in preparing IMO concoctions which can be used as foliar fertilizers for their farms. Pinay Barangay Captain Bernardo Ponce and PFMPC President Reynaldo Cerelo also assisted their group in making the concoctions. Working in groups, the farmers sourced the locally available materials from the barangay and took part in preparing Fermented Plant Juice, Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) and Fish Amino Acid (FAA).
Since January 2010, CapSU has been extending its consultancy services to Tumalalud National High School students on vermiculture. Eduardo Navarra coordinated with Loreli Legada, research adviser of the Mambusao National High School in Tumalalud, Mambusao, Capiz on the conduct of her students’ research on producing vermicast. Navarra facilitated the preparation and production of vermiculture for students’ learning. Three seniors undertook the project which later won a regional award in a research competition sponsored by the Department of Education Region 6 in December.
In the first Regional Science and Technology Fair sponsored by the Regional Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) on October 15–16, 2011 in Iloilo City, the study titled “Growth of African Nightcrawlers and the Macronutrient Content and pH of Their Vermicompost Using Various Substrates” undertaken by Jayson Gula, Irene Francisco and Mark Stephen Guion, was named the Best Presenter Award and won First Place in the Cluster 2-SSC, Type B, Life Science Team Category. The award-winning study won over eight entries from across Western Visayas. The young researchers were assisted by Ms. Loreli Legada, Research Adviser and Mr. Rolando Ricardo, Jr., school principal.
To empower farmers by way of advocacy—this was the essence of the assistance extended by selected personnel of the Capiz State University (CapSU) during the Advocacy Training and Planning Workshop led by the Plan International (Plan) in cooperation with the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) held on August 1–3, 2011 at the Lawaan Garden Inn in Lawaan, Roxas City. The workshop convened some 20 participants composed of agricultural technicians and members of three farmer’s organizations representing three towns of Capiz, namely: the Maayon Community-based Agricultural Development Organization (MCBADO); the United Men and Women for Agricultural and Fishery Development (UMWAD) Pilar; and the Pontevedra Fishers and Farmers Development Organization, Inc. (PFiFaDO).
The Plan International and PhilDHRRA officers were assisted by CapSU personnel including Engr. Corazon Ditarro and Engr. Marty Delfin of CapSU Pontevedra’s agricultural engineering department and University Extension Associate Manaog. And on August 25–26, CapSU joined the same farmers groups organized by Plan International and PHilDHRRA—MCBADO, UMWAD Pilar and PFiFaDO—in their study tour of vermicomposting sites in Panit-an and Panay, Capiz. There, Navarra lectured on organics and also promoted the FITS Center, WESVARRDEC & PCAARD.
On November 9, a Livelihood Training on Bangus Deboning was held in Quiajo Barangay Hall, President Roxas, Capiz. Through the efforts of the President Roxas FITS Center personnel, Navarra met with Mayor Raymund Locsin and the barangay officials and women’s groups and established contacts there.
On October 28, 2011, TSS Ulysses Bendicio of the President Roxas FITS Center led the coconut toddy sugar production in barangay Pondol of the said town. In coordination with TG Team Leader Navarra, the initiative benefited some 30 constituents of the barangay including housewives and farmers.
On November 15–16, 2011, the President Roxas FITS Center hosted a two-day training cum study tour on Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) in Poblacion, President Roxas, Capiz.
Some 25 upland farmers from the barangays of Goce, Manoling, Badiangon, Carmencita and Bayuyan took advantage of the expertise of Benito Labindao, Agriculturist II and Lilia Peñaranda, chief of the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Center for Hillyland Development based in Malapad Cogon, Sigma, Capiz.
On November 21–23, Navarra promoted the FITS Center and the advocacies of WESVARRDEC to some 50 farmers and agricultural workers during the Farmers Field School-Palaycheck Agro Ecosystems Analysis (AESA) of the Panay FITS Center in Poblacion, Tico, Tanza Sur, all barangays of Panay, Capiz. The initiative was a collaboration of the Panay FITS Center personnel, PhilRice and agri-commercial company personnel.
On December 19, Navarra served as resource speaker during the Organic Agriculture lecture seminar sponsored by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region 6 held at the Maribert Resort in Lantangan, Pontevedra, Capiz. In the seminar, ATI regional personnel and Capiz farmers were taught on vegetables diseases and organic farming. On December 21–22, Navarra also helped President Roxas FITS Center in their conduct of the Vegetable Production Seminar at the Maribert Resort, Lantangan, Pontevedra, Capiz. There, CapSU promoted the FITS Center modality and WESVARRDEC and also led the preparation of IMOs and foliar fertilizers with 25 farmers and teachers.
Capability Building Activities
On August 3–5, 2011, CapSU’s Eduardo Navarra joined the 9th National Vegetable Congress sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and the National Vegetable Growers Association of the Philippines at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City.
Navarra networked with the FITS Center personnel who also joined the congress and led the group to see the farm of Greenbase owned by Alex Amor. Besides joining the activities of the national agricultural program, Navarra’s exposure gave valuable insights on organic farming from various exposures to the commercially owned demo farms featuring their best practices. In turn, Navarra shares them to his subsequent audience farmers.
On October 4–8, 2011, Eduardo Navarra joined the 2011 Agri Link at the World Trade Center in Manila. To learn other best practices around the country and the world, Navarra maximized the opportunity by attending lectures such as the one on malunggay production and also sought to learn the new trends and updates in organic farming production. Besides collecting various IEC materials, particularly on organic farming practices, Navarra also networked with various agriculture and extension workers who joined the national agri fair.
