Funded by Gender and Development (GAD) and HORTI, the Horticulture Research and Training Institute (HORTI) conducted Gender Mainstreaming and Skills Training on Plant Propagation of Fruit and Ornamental Plant for Production with the participation of male and female BSU employees and other interested stakeholders at the Everlasting Hall- BSU on May 23.
In Horticulture, plant propagation plays an important role as the number of plants can be rapidly multiplied retaining desirable characteristics of the mother plants, as well as reducing the bearing age of the plants (Roberto & Colombo, 2020). Plant propagation can be achieved over two methods: sexual and asexual propagation. Sexual propagation uses seeds to produce new plants. Meanwhile, gardeners use several general methods to propagate plants asexually such as taking cuttings, layering, division, grafting, budding and developing new plants from tissue cultures in a lab (University of Missouri- Extension, 2016).
HORTI plays the role of disseminating information regarding plant propagation to interested stakeholders. Through their training, participants are taught the importance of plant propagation and the techniques on propagation of vegetables, fruits, and ornamental. This practice gives them business opportunities as well as the proper knowledge to grow their own food at home.

The event also highlighted the importance of inclusiveness through gender mainstreaming, also known as Gender and Development (GAD) mainstreaming. It is the major global strategy for ensuring that the government pursues gender equality in all aspects of the development process to achieve the vision of a gender- responsive society where men and women equally contribute to and benefit from development (Philippine Commission on Women, 2020). Regardless of gender, everyone was encouraged to join the training.
Moreover, gender inequality is one reason why developing countries have difficulty achieving food security. Gender inequality undermines progress toward sustainable agricultural development across multiple dimensions (Ignaciuk & Tun, 2019). Traditionally, women were expected to do house chores while men work in the fields. Since time has changed, HORTI is aiming to respond to the call for gender equality where females can freely grow plants and where males can certainly grow flowers too.
Resource speaker Ms. Alma A. Amado, Assistant Professor III, BSU-CA, presented the importance of why people, regardless of their gender, love to grow ornamental. According to her, ornamental plants are grown to display aesthetic features with flowers, leaves, scent, overall foliage texture, fruit, stem, and bark for the enjoyment of gardeners, visitors, and public institutions.
Another resource speaker, Dr. Franklin G. Bawang, Professor-CA and Project Leader- HORTI, explained the process of asexual propagation. As mentioned in his presentation, the method can be achieved through separation and division, which involve using specialized or modified stems, roots, and plantlets as propagating materials. Specifically, he discussed the propagation by cutting, rooting media which is used to form a new root system, layering, grafting, and budding.

The speakers further explained that molds can occur during propagation because anything kept in an environment with moisture and limited ventilation is susceptible to mold. Also, the best way to propagate fruits for faster fruit production, as a response to a question, is through cutting but it would depend on the kind of fruit if it is suitable for the method. Last resort would be grafting.
To conclude the activity, male and female participants applied what they learned through hands-on training which will further cultivate their awareness and skills regarding plant propagation methods, sexual and asexual propagation techniques, and will increase their knowledge on mass production of fruits and ornamental for foliage and flower. Through their participation, they are also breaking barriers and perceptions about agriculture and gender roles. By Lyka D. Cualan