CapSU, Plan International, PhilDHRRA train fisher folk, farmers’ orgs on sustainable agri

By Corazon Ditarro and Marty Delfin

With reports from Maria Mae A. Demontaño

CapSU Pontevedra

In the first months of 2011, the Agricultural Engineering Department under the College of Agriculture and Fisheries (COAF) of the Capiz State University (CapSU) Pontevedra Campus led varied extension activities and services for the town of Pontevedra, Capiz.

Working with PLAN International and the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), two nongovernment organizations seeking the welfare and conditions of rural communities, concerned CapSU personnel took part in the project titled Productive Capacity Improvement of Civil Society Groups in the Philippine Agricultural Sector and Establishment of Safety Net Measures against Volatile Food Prices, otherwise known as the Food Facility Project (FFP).

Funded by the European Union, FFP has been implemented in March 15, 2010, drawing counterpart from the local government unit (LGU) of said municipality.

Under the said project, the CapSU personnel led by the Agricultural Engineering Department, were assisted by the agriculture, economics and management departments of the same campus in providing technical expertise on the varied programs implemented.

During the Seed Dispersal and Seedbox Preparation in January 2011, some 420 member families of the Pontevedra Fishers and Farmers Development Organization (PFiFADO) representing the barangays of Solo, Ameligan, Guba, Bantigue, Agbanog, Linampongan, Malag-it, all of Pontevedra, received some 4,620 packs of seeds of squash, okra, eggplant, tomato, sitaw, pechay and papaya. Each of the 420 family beneficiaries was also awarded 8 planting bags.

From February through March 2011, the group led the Thematic Training on Livestock and Poultry Raising and Vegetable Production designed to enhance the skills of para-technicians and para-veterinarians of the municipality.


Conducted in CapSU’s Agricultural Engineering department in Bailan, Pontevedra, the training featured the expertise of Ms. Leah Escantilla, PhilDHRRA project officer and Mr. Rene Busquit, agricultural technologist and seed and meat inspector of Pontevedra’s Office of the Municipal Agriculturist.

In the said techno training, Busquit shared applicable technologies on livestock-raising including practical ways to manage the diseases of animals. For her part, Escantilla trained the participants on natural farming systems (NFS). Participants also visited the Palayamanan project in barangay Mianay, Ivisan, Capiz.

The said thematic training sought to turn out skilled para-technicians (for crops and vegetables) and para-veterinarians (for livestock) who can serve their own organization.

Meanwhile, the working team hosted a consultative meeting on small-farm machines in January which helped revise, update, and strengthen the implementing rules and policy making guidelines on deliverable projects.

Under these projects, officers and members of PFiFADO had been taught the custom hiring computation of small-farm implements. They were also taught on saving schemes to sustain the project.

During the small-farm machines turnover in March, two sets of diesel engine, power tillers (turtles), hand tractor, harrow, blower, and threshers were distributed to PFIFADO member beneficiaries.


This was led by Ms. Susan Calaor, project officer of PLAN International and Engr. Corazon Ditarro, extension coordinator from CapSU Pontevedra; and PFIFADO officers and members. This was also witnessed by Mayor Esteban Contreras, Pontevedra barangay captains and beneficiaries.

Through the concerned initiative of CapSU President Editha Magallanes, who recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding between PLAN International, PhilDHRRA, LGUs and the Capiz State University, CapSU has expressed commitment to the different local partners and international linkages which facilitated the conduct of extension activities in Pontevedra.