BALINGASAG, MISAMIS ORIENTAL- In a bid to modernize the coconut industry in the region, the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) successfully trained 30 local coconut farmers during its Batch 3 Training on Coconut Nursery Management, held from May 13 to 15, 2026.
The three-day intensive capability-building program aimed to equip the participants with advanced knowledge and practical skills in proper nursery management—a critical factor in boosting local coconut production and upgrading crop quality across farming communities in the province.
Mr. Ricarte G. Aca, a resource speaker from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Balingasag, shared crucial technical insights during the sessions. He focused on the selection of quality seednuts, precise planting methodologies, and the systematic care and management of developing coconut seedlings.
Aca emphasized the adoption of hybrid seednuts, underscoring that shifting to hybrids is a vital strategy for local farmers to significantly increase yield and maximize their long-term farm income.
Ms. Riezel C. Hilogon, one of the farmer-participants, expressed his gratitude and shared how the training expanded his understanding of the commodity.
“I am very thankful to the Agricultural Training Institute for conducting this seminar in our area because I learned a lot, especially about the different types of coconut. I also learned about the proper arrangement of seedlings, how to establish a nursery, the correct spacing for planting seedlings, and how to choose good-quality coconut seedlings to ensure better growth and production,” Hilogon said.
Through a combination of technical lectures and actual hands-on learning, the participants acquired modern agricultural techniques that are ready for immediate application in their respective farms and rural organizations.
With reports from Technical Support Staff Alex Gevero
