By Niño Manaog
Photo by Rector John Latoza
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s part of its continued and effective extension activities, the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based in Capiz State University (CapSU) Poblacion Campus in Poblacion, Mambusao, Capiz played host to some 36 agri-tourists from FITS Pavia in Iloilo during their cross visit and study tour on September 30, 2010.
Led by Dr. Raul Ticar, director of the CapSU’s Extension Institute, FITS CapSU Mambusao showcased to the visitors the technologies practiced including vermiculture and other organic interventions by the Center’s experts.
The group composed of Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Council (BAFC) leaders, members and staff of Pavia LGU and led by FITS Pavia Manager Homer Hubag, dropped by the center on a study tour to the Darag native chicken farm of WESVARRDEC Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Margarito Andrade in Barangay Libas, Banga, Aklan.
Training Coordinator Eduardo Navarra, who is also CapSU’s Techno Gabay Team Leader for the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), led the demonstration on the production of the carbonized rice hull. The Center also featured to the visitors the vermitea it has recently prepared to be used as foliar fertilizers. According to Navarra, indigenous microorganisms (IMO) fertilizers do not fail to wow agri-tourists and visitors because of its practicability. Producing fermented plant juice and vermitea can be easily done using only household materials and ingredients.
Rice farmer Pedro Jabonillo, also Pavia’s Municipal Agriculture and Fisheries Council (MAFC) treasurer, said he learned much from Navarra’s lecture and later told Hubag that he would try making his own carbonized rice hull in his own farm in Pavia. Leah Calambro, FITS Pavia information service specialist, expressed appreciation of the technologies featured to them. Technology Services Specialist Marilyn Hondrade said that organic farming practices are practicable because they do not require farmers to buy commercially prepared pesticides; they also reduce the health risks for the farmers and consumers of agricultural crops.
Hubag said the visit to FITS CapSU Mambusao was worth it, considering the short period they spent there. Hubag then sought to request Navarra to lead the training on mushroom culture production for their municipality before the year ends.
According to Ticar, FITS CapSU Mambusao counts the Pavia visit as another accomplishment of the Center, having been able to share to more agri tourists on their featured technologies. FITS CapSU Mambusao is supported by its staff, namely: Ceferino Lizada, Shirley Lizada, Mary Ann Lariza, Antonio Buñi, Abner Villareal and Winnie Estocada and Rector John Latoza.
