JIMENEZ, MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL — Thirty-one farmers from selected rice clusters in Misamis Occidental completed a five-day training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in rice production conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) in partnership with the Municipal Agriculture Office of Jimenez, at Fortunata Natural Farm .
The training aimed to equip farmers with essential skills in accurate pest identification, disease diagnosis, and effective crop management practices.
In her opening remarks, Municipal Agriculturist Marissa Malon of the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO)-Jimenez expressed gratitude to the participants for their active involvement. She emphasized the importance of continuous learning in achieving agricultural progress and highlighted her appreciation for the participation of young farmers, noting the critical role of engaging the next generation in farming.
One of the participants, Antonio M. Tabuzo, shared how the training reshaped his understanding of fertilizer use.
“Before, I used to think that applying more fertilizer would result in higher yields, but I realized it can actually lead to more pests, it really changed how I see things and made me understand how important it is to keep learning. Since we are about to start planting, I plan to apply what I learned on my farm. It is a big help to have the right knowledge when making decisions,”Tabuzo said.
To ensure experiential learning and practical application of IPM principles, the training included interactive lectures, workshops, group discussions, and field practicums like Agroecosystem Analysis (AESA). During these sessions, participants presented their findings to a panel, which provided constructive feedback and recommendations for improvement.
The training was facilitated by Technical Support Staff and Project Officer Hannah Santander with the staff of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Jimenez.
The training was conducted on on April 13-17, 2026.
With reports from Hannah Santander, TSS
