FARMERS’ BANANA MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, IMPROVED THROUGH TRAINING CONDUCTED BY THE MAFAR
Thirty-eight farmers in Buldon were grateful as their major practices in banana production were rectified through their participation to the ‘Training on Banana Production and its Utilization’ conducted by the MAFAR in Barangay Mataya on August 13, 2020.
Under the ministry’s High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), the training’s main objective was to introduce modern technologies and teach the farmers on proper cultural management of banana particularly Lakatan variety that would give them increased production and additional profit.
The farmers identified the proper and recommended deleafing method as their most significant learning from the training that was shared by HVCDP Focal Person Ramil M. Timpolok. The farmers revealed that they used to remove the entire leaf that is infected by disease but through the training, they learned that only the infected part needs to be removed to avoid further infection and contamination.
Municipal Councilor and Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture Hon. Kusain D. Ali represented Hon. Municipal Mayor Abolais A. Manalao during the training. The former expressed his happiness and gratitude for the presence of the MAFAR officials who brought the knowledge and information that could help them carry out the proper ways in growing banana. Councilor Ali also emphasized that the local government of Buldon is in full support to all the programs of the MAFAR.
Further, the municipal councilor said that improving the farming activities in the community will give chance to the people advance their livelihood to combat the challenges brought by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The training was highlighted by the the lectures presented by MAFAR Consultant for Agriculture Concerns Dr. Jalika D. Mangacop who discussed the updates on the Production Technology of Banana and HVCDP Focal Person Timpolok on pest and disease management, soil classification, seed selection, proper land preparation and proper fertilization.
The activity was made possible through the efforts of the above the MAFAR-BARMM officials in close collaboration with MAFAR-Maguindanao through Focal Person Adam Evaristo and OIC-Municipal Agricultural Officer Norhanida A. Manda.
Before the training session ended, all the participants received packs of assorted vegetable seeds.