BUTUAN CITY – “This training opened our eyes to new opportunities in coffee production. We came here managing a cacao nursery, but we are now inspired to establish a coffee and cacao nursery that can help improve our cooperative and the livelihood of our members.” This was the reflection shared by Jenny C. Polizon of Maibu Farmers’ Cooperative, highlighting how the Training on Coffee Nursery Establishment and Management has motivated participants to explore new enterprise opportunities within the growing coffee industry.
Responding to the increasing demand for quality planting materials and the need to strengthen local coffee production, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII conducted the Training on Coffee Nursery Establishment and Management – Batch 2 on May 27–29, 2026 at Almont Hotel, Butuan City which was participated by 29 individuals composed of Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and coconut-coffee farmers from Butuan City, Buenavista, and Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
The training focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge and practical skills in coffee nursery establishment and management. Sessions covered coffee propagation techniques, nursery cultural management, accreditation requirements, and an overview of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP). Resource persons included Mr. Matt Janfour B. Cabahug of ATI-RTC XIII, Mr. Keven Mark Jimenez of the Bureau of Plant Industry–National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS), and Mr. Anthony M. Buntag of Casiklan Wheels Farmers Association, Inc. (CAWFAI).
During his session, Mr. Buntag emphasized that quality seedlings serve as the foundation of a productive coffee farm. Through practical demonstrations and field-based learning, participants gained firsthand experience in nursery establishment, allowing them to better understand the technical requirements of producing quality coffee seedlings for commercial and community-based production.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jimenez discussed the standards and requirements for nursery accreditation and plant material certification. He encouraged participants to pursue accreditation as a means of ensuring quality assurance and improving the credibility and marketability of their planting materials. He also highlighted the opportunity for Caraga to become a leading source of certified coffee seedlings in the region.
Participants were exposed to actual nursery operations and learned proper pruning techniques for coffee mother plants, propagation methods, and nursery maintenance practices essential in producing healthy and high-quality planting materials during the hands-on practicum at the nursery facilities of CAWFAI in Barangay Casiklan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte.
Another participant, Bernie A. Agustin of CAWFAI, expressed appreciation for the support provided by ATI and its partner agencies, noting that the training strengthened their understanding of proper nursery management and farm practices. He shared that the knowledge gained would help farmers apply improved technologies and management strategies that could result in better productivity and higher-quality planting materials.
The ATI-RTC XIII continues to advance the objectives of the CFIDP by equipping farmers and extension workers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build a sustainable and competitive coffee industry—one quality seedling at a time.
