Farmers Field School on Corn Production culminates with 150 graduates

By Aurell P. Arais

BUTUAN CITY, July 30 (PIA) - Age doesn’t matter in education.

This was proven by Enrica Miramonte, a 78 year old corn farmer of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

Nanay Enrica is one of the 150 farmers who received their certificates during the mass graduation of the Farmers Field School (FFS) on Corn Production last July 18, held in the municipal gymnasium of the town.

She said that she has to walk more than two kilometers early morning every Friday for four months to reach the venue of their class.

Nanay Enrica said that from the training, she learned lot of new technologies such as the proper way of land preparation, selection of high yielding seeds, seeding rate and the proper way of applying fertilizer.

Aside from the FFS mass graduation, simultaneously held is the culmination of the season-long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Integrated Pest Management for Corn Production attended by 30 agricultural extension workers (AEWs) including the five barangay extension workers (BAWs). The event was graced by Esperanza Municipal Mayor Deo Manpatilan Jr. and other local officials.

Also in attendance were OIC Provincial Agriculturist Jessica Unson of Agusan del Sur, Agri-Pinoy Corn Coordinator Abel F. Wagas of DA RFU 13, and Dr. Nenita Sumile, Center Director of the Agricultural Training Institute.

The conduct of season – long TOT on IPM and the FFS on Corn Production are geared towards capacitating both LGU extension workers and farmers to increase their knowledge and learn new approaches in corn production.

It is a joint effort of the DA-RFU-13, ATI and LGUs in responding to the goals of the present administration to attain food sufficiency and security. (FEA/RAFID DA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)