TRECE MARTIRES CITY – With the aim to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants on cacao production and processing and encourage them to engage in coconut-cacao intercropping in their respective areas, DA-ATI CALABARZON in partnership with the Villar Foundation Farm School & Tourist Farm and the Philippine Coconut Authority IV spearheaded the “Training on Cacao Production, Processing, Postharvest and Coconut-Cacao Intercropping.”
The training curriculum was designed to emphasize farm practices related to coconut-cacao intercropping, nursery management, pest and disease control, harvesting and postharvest techniques, cacao products and byproducts, and marketing strategies.
“Akala ko alam ko na ang mga ginagawa sa aming niyugan kasi yun po ang nakasanayan na namin. Pero dito sa training na ito, ako ay nagulat at ang mga ginagawa pala po namin ay patyamba-tyamba,” shared Criselda Ballesta, a coconut farmer from Quezon province, reflecting on how the program expanded her knowledge in coconut-cacao production.
Criselda is among the 30 participants from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Las Piñas and staff of the Villar Foundation Farm School & Tourist Farm successfully completed the five-day training.
“Gayundin po, ako po ay tuwang-tuwa pag ang puno ng cacao ko ay maraming dahon, yun pala po ay kailangan ng pruning base sa mga natutunan natin dito. Isa pa po, kapag nag-ha-harvest po ako ng bunga ng cacao namin ay talaga namang tuwang-tuwa po akong ikot-ikutin, pero yun pala po ay maling pamamaraan. Kaya po sobrang nag papasalamat po kami sa lahat na nagbigay ng mga kaalaman para po kami ay mas lubos na magkaroon ng sapat na kaalaman at maitama po ang mga pamamaraan na ginagawa namin patungkol sa pagniniyugan at pagca-cacao,” added Criselda.
Representing Center Director Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, Ms. Sherylou C. Alfaro, OIC, Assistant Center Director of DA-ATI CALABARZON, graced the closing program. In her message, she emphasized, “Kami po sa ATI, kasama ang mga katuwang, ang Villar Foundation Farm School & Tourist Farm, sa PCA IV at sa Department of Agriculture IV-A, ay natutuwa dahil nanatili po kayo sa loob ng limang araw na pagsasanay, ito po ay isang indikasyon na ang passion n’yo po para makakuha ng mga bagong kaalaman at kasanayan ay hindi matatawaran.”
The training initiative is part of the implementation of Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) and was held from April 15-19, 2024, at the DA-ATI CALABARZON, in this city.
News report by Janine Cailo
