Barangay Lindaban, Manolo Fortich, BUKIDNON---A Knowledge Transfer-Technical Field Day recently transpired in Barangay Lindaban, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Organized by the East-West Seed Company, the field day gathered 30 active farmers in the said barangay, Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and neighboring farming communities to show and instill in them various hands-on demonstrations on certain farming practices such as soil media preparation, vermicomposting, proper waste disposal, mulching, etc.
One crop that was successfully grown through a series of plant trials was onion. With onion as one of the commonly used ingredients in most dishes, consumers struggled the most when it fetched a whooping P700 kilo some months ago. The East-West Seed Company, through its techno hub, intends to produce quality and affordable onions by establishing an Onion Academy.
Knowledge Transfer Chief Girlie A. Frando emphasized the need for farmers to be informed on proper seed management since it directly impacts crop quality and crop yield. “As the training arm of the East-West Seed Company, the Knowledge Transfer division is the capacity builder of the smallholder farmers, including women farmers, as well as encouraging the young generation of farmers. We implement various knowledge transfer projects with different partners here in Bukidnon, dito po sa Bukidnon we have a partnership with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The area we have here in Bukidnon is focused on vegetable production for smallholder farmers, which is anchored on PhilGAP. So eventually, the very goal is ma-adopt nila yung practice, and have it certified if they are interested in certifying their farms. We also help in terms of market integration, aside from the training since we connect the farmers to their market. For Bukidnon farmers, naka-connect po kami sa food processor Nutri-Asia and other identified markets. As to onion production, we have instilled from the start with the farmers to consider it as a business and establish a sustainable market. The next step is upscaling new farmers and additional farmers. Nakita din naming na wala masyadong production ng onion dito sa Bukidnon, and we also wanted to set-up the Onion Academy since malaki ang demand ng onion”, Ms. Frando said in an interview.
KT Specialist/TSH Representative Aila Irizsa C. Ebañez shared some technical knowledge on growing onions like the Super Pinoy (B2R2) variety and the Golden Pinoy (B1R2) variety, while KT-Techno Hub Farm Manager Arnee L. Abinguna along with techno hub farm workers delivered and shared their best farming practices with the field day attendees.
Administrative Officer IV Efren C. Macario, Media Production Specialist Vic Thor Palarca, and Joegen Bahian attended the KT-Technical Field Day on behalf of Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez.
