GENERAL MACARTHUR, Eastern Samar — Thirty farmers and agricultural extension workers gathered at Somono Integrated Farm on October 8–10, 2025 for the Training on Cacao Nursery Establishment for BPI Accreditation (Batch 4). The three-day activity focused on building participants’ competencies in establishing cacao nurseries that align with the standards set by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
The activity was designed to guide participants from understanding the role of nurseries to meeting accreditation requirements. Topics covered the essential elements of nursery operation—seed selection, propagation, growing media preparation, irrigation and fertilization, pest and disease management, and quality control. Participants also learned about documentation processes and inventory management, which are critical to ensuring nursery compliance and long-term viability.
Serving as resource persons were Mr. Gilbert Catayong, an Agricultural Extension Worker, and Mr. Rodulfo Somono, a Farmer-Leader and host of the training venue. Both were graduates of the ATI Training of Trainers Program.
A major highlight of the program was the hands-on practicum. Each participant prepared and bagged soil media, sowed seeds, and practiced grafting techniques—completing five (5) soil medium bags, five (5) sown seeds, and three (3) grafted seedlings per trainee. These exercises allowed participants to gain confidence in tasks that are essential for developing high-quality cacao planting materials.
Discussions also emphasized the importance of improving local nursery practices to boost cacao productivity in Eastern Samar. Participants expressed strong commitment to sharing what they learned with fellow farmers, cooperative members, and their communities. Many recognized that cascading these skills will help strengthen grassroots production systems and contribute to long-term sustainability in the cacao industry.
Virginia Basijan, during her impression, said that she has been planting Cacao for a very long time using its seeds. “I just learned that through grafting, cacao planting materials can quickly be produced. I also learned the proper way of taking care of my Cacao plants.”
“I hope more trainings from ATI can capacitate us on how to take care of different crops,” expressed Eutropia Bagang. The training opened her eyes to the possibility of grafting fruit trees. “I will share what I learned to my fellow members in the association so that many of us will be fully capacitated with these knowledge and skills.”
By the end of the training, participants agreed to apply their learnings in their respective farms and organizations, ensuring that the efforts to enhance cacao production extend well beyond the three-day event. The initiative marks another step forward in supporting resilient and quality-driven cacao farming in the region.
