A total of 380 coffee farmers in the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras graduated from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA-6) “School on the Air” (SOA) on coffee production on Tuesday, Oct. 15
The farmers came from Barotac Viejo (83), Cabatuan (10), Dingle (30), Janiuay (24), Miagao (30), New Lucena (32), Oton, Passi City (35), San Enrique (32) and Sta. Barbara (7) in Iloilo and Nueva Valencia (2) in Guimaras.
Dominador Marquez DA-Field Operations Division OIC-chief, during the graduation ceremony at The Mansion in Iloilo City, said he was proud of the farmers who joined their on air program
“Nagpakigbahin sila agud matun-an ang nasari-sari nga teknolohiya nga makabulig sa pagpasanyog sang industriya sang kape sa Western Visayas,” he said.
Of the 380 graduates, ten farmers excelled from their batch, namely: Nelma Carillo of Dingle; Elsie Suarnaba of Passi City; Salvador Subere of Sta. Barbara; Nelfa Daquiado of San Enrique; Rafael Paniergo and Leticia Cadiz of Oton; Victoria Jucaban from New Lucena; Jomar Dominguez of Cabatuan; Rogelio Ciat and Charlotte Escriba of Barotac Viejo.
Eight farmer-leaders were also awarded as outstanding SOA coordinators, they were: Myrna Reyes of Passi City; Rocelin Sotomil, Judy Tayupon of Oton; Maria Lisa Mayandia of New Lucena; Lynie Valencia, Lea Deala of Dingle, Ireneo Sampani of Cabatuan; and Norberto Gonzales, Jr. of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
Outstanding graduates and coordinators received a certificate of recognition and one set of farm tools each consisting of knapsack sprayer, spade, pruning shear and handsaw.
SOA was aired over DYRI-RMN 774Khz in Iloilo City every Wednesday to Thursday at 3:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from August to October in collaboration with the DA-High Value Crops Development Program.
According to him, the DA through the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) distributed 30 rolls of UV films for coffee drying, 500 units grafting knife, 500 units each of pruning shears, pruning saw and grafting knife, 15 units of mini-chainsaw to support the coffee rejuvenation and production program of the region.
Also, two coffee processing facilities were established in Murcia and La Castellana, Negros Occidental to develop their community-based coffee processing enterprises.
As the demand for coffee is now on the rise, DA also distributed around 900,000 pieces of coffee seedling throughout the region since 2017.
In 2020, the DA-HVCDP also allocated funds for the procurement of coffee stem cuttings according to the DA Field Operations OIC-chief.(with a report from DA-6) IMT
PHOTO CREDITS: Department of Agriculture (DA-6)
