PROPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur- To enhance the promotion and development of rubber as one of the priority crops under High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII conducted the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Rubber Production and Tapping Management on March 20-24, 2023 at FDAI, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

The Resource Persons (RP) of the said training were Mr. Jimson Peralta of DA-RFO 13, Mr. Rex Cabahug of Agusan Research Center (ARC), Mr. Julius Quijada of Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office (PAVO) Agusan del Sur, Mr. Ermeson Ibacarra of Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT), and Mr. Narciso A. Samblasinio of JCA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (JARBEMCO).

Mr. Samblasinio facilitated the hands-on rubber tapping and latex harvesting and processing. Further, he rated the participants based on their skill level after the hands-on practice in rubber tapping.

The training participants learned various cultural management, rubber production methods, and necessary for tapping. An actual visit to a rubber plantation located in Agusan Research Center at Mabuhay, Bayugan City, wherein one can find quality rubber, enabled the participants to do hands-on demonstrations on eye-budding propagation and rubber asexual propagation. They also visit the primary rubber processing at Farmers Alternative for Self-Reliance Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FARMSCO), San Vicente, Agusan del Sur.

The training has 12 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units for licensed agriculturists. The Partnership and Accreditation Services Section (PASS), with Mary Jane Gonzaga, Development Management Officer II, as Project Officer, spearheaded the training.