The Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA, in collaboration with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Romblon, initiated a training on Nursery Management for Coffee and Cacao at the Romblon State University Hostel, Odiongan, Romblon on June 26–28, 2024.
The training aimed to equip small-scale coconut farmers with the necessary skills for producing high-quality planting materials, managing nurseries, and using establishment and propagation techniques.
Mr. Ramil D. Atienza, the resource person from Mindoro State University, discussed various plant propagation techniques and explained the importance of intercropping and management practices for coffee and cacao nurseries. Moreover, the participants engaged in the actual grafting of cacao seedlings and soil media preparations under his guidance.
The participants were also given the step-by-step process of plant materials certification and nursery accreditation through a video-recorded presentation by Ms. Diana Tabudlong of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), which they found relevant, as some are planning to establish their own nurseries.
Ms. Amor D. Brescia, a member of the Romblon Cacao Cooperative (ROCACO), highlighted in her impression that the knowledge she gained from attending this training will be significant in helping their organization produce good-quality materials for their members.
“Malaki ang maitutulong ng mga natutunan namin dito sa training na ito, dahil kami ay may cooperative at ang aming commodity ay cacao. Sa aming mga miyembro, karamihan ay may coconut at nakatanim ang cacao dito, kaya't napakagandang oportunidad ito dahil nagsimula na kami sa processing. Alam ko rin na kailangan naming matutunan ang pagtatayo ng nursery upang makapag-produce kami ng mataas na kalidad ng planting materials. Ako po personally ay gusto kong makapag-set up ng nursery, at maganda ang naging daloy ng training sapagkat step-by-step na itinuro sa atin mula sa pagtatayo ng nursery hanggang sa pagpapa-accredit sa BPI" she said.
A total of 19 small-scale coconut farmers participated in the said training, some of whom are members of the Arya Coconut Farmers Association. The members of this association will be the beneficiaries of the nursery establishment intervention from the Department of Agriculture-High Value Crops Development Program (DA-HVCDP) under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
