Teach Farmers. Further.

CapSU Techno Gabay shares organic farming to Batad, Iloilo farmers

By Niño Manaog

Extension Associate

Capiz State University

There is no stopping [the advocates of] organic agriculture.

Recently, the Capiz State University Techno Gabay Team led by Eduardo Navarra, Techno Gabay Team Leader, shared the expertise of its personnel to some 80 farmers of Batad, Iloilo and high school and college students during the 3rd Municipal Corn Congress, Corn Derby At Iba Pa sponsored by the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center based at the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College in Batad, Iloilo.

Anchored on the theme “Maayo nga Pamaagi sa Pagpanguma: Yabe sang Pagpakigkometensya,” the FITS Center’s initiative drew the active participation of officials and key partners in advocacy from government agencies including the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Region 6; the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC); the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Iloilo.

As one of the event’s highlights, Mr. Eduardo Navarrra taught the farmers and students participants on the disadvantages of conventional farming. In turn Navarra promoted the payoffs of engaging in organic farming—foremost by using indigenous microorganisms (IMOs). Aside from his lecture presentation on organic agriculture, Navarra brought samples of IMOs for actual demonstration to the farmers and students.

Wherever Capiz State University (CapSU)'s Techno Gabay Team is invited, Mr. Eduardo Navarra's initiative and efforts to advocate organic agriculture and natural farming alternatives continue to engage agriculture enthusiasts and ordinary persons alike. The Capiz State University feels privileged to help spread the advocacy for the benefit of more farmers in the countryside.

Led by Eva Montero, FITS Center manager, the Corn Congress also awarded farm tools and freebies to participants who led their spot quizzes. The tests were taken from the information supplied by the keynote spe-akers and the resource speakers.

The one-day activity was also joined by Mr. Rolando Lamigo, wesvarrdec’s Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) for corn production representing Batad FITS Center. For his part, Lamigo singled out the plan of their cooperative to adopt organic farming practices across the barangays in the municipality of Batad.

As part of information dissemination campaigns, CapSU Techno Gabay team likewise gave out copies of IEC (information education and communication) materials on organic farming. The Batad FITS Center received brochures developed by CapSU, namely: Organiko nga Pagpanguma: Ang Mas Maayo kag Mahapos nga Pamaagi; Paghimo kag Paggamit sang Mga Foliar Fertilizer; Ang Paghimo sang Vermicompost; and Ang Paghimo sang IndigenousMicroorganisms ukon IMOs.   

Navarra also gave out the primer titled Ang Pag-obra ka Mga Gamit sang Uling nga Ugabhang (Carbonized Rice Hull) authored by Cora Navarra and Eduardo Navarrra and published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).