MBONTOC, Mountain Province – The Provincial Government, through its Mountain Province Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center (MPAFEC), conducted the Training of Trainors on plant pest, disease monitoring and surveillance to Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) held at the Archog Hotel and Restaurant, Samoki in the capital town on November 5-7, 2024.
According to Provincial Veterinarian and MPAFEC In-charge Rodelio B. Bagawi, pests, and diseases affect plants in various stages of their development, and damage may cause a little or severe economic loss to the farmers.
Bagawi said that surveillance and monitoring provide critical information for research to develop new control methods and enhance existing ones, which will foster innovation in pest and disease management practices. According to him, proper and timely detection will prevent the establishment and spread of pests and diseases; thus, he said that there is a need to further capacitate the AEWs on proper pest and disease identification, collection, management and control to safeguard the agricultural sector.
“As the frontliners in the municipalities, the AEWs roles in providing relevant and accurate recommendations to farmers are crucial,” Bagawi said.
During the opening program, the message from Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. was relayed by Executive Assistant Ernesto Bondad, urging the participants to re-echo the relevant information from the activity in their respective areas to capacitate the farmers and other AEWs.
He said that the activity is one of the Provincial Government’s responses to the observed emergence of pests and diseases in the province to ensure that the local farmers will be receiving accurate guidance. Bondad further assured the Governor’s continuous support to the local farmers by providing timely interventions and agricultural extension services.
Moreover, Chantal Santowen conveyed the message of Board Member Ezra Samson A. Gomez, guaranteeing the continuous support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Committee on Agriculture to programs and activities that will help increase the small-scale farmers’ productivity.
Provincial Agriculturist and MPAFEC Head Secretariat Mary Jane S. Tumapang mentioned that at the end of the training, the participants should be able to assist farmers in the proper management and control of pests and diseases and be confident to provide them relevant and accurate recommendations.
With this, the Provincial Government has invited personnel from the Department of Agriculture- Cordillera Administrative Region’s Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) and Regulatory Divisions as resource persons. The speakers who shared their expertise were RCPC’s Frederick A. Sabaway, Roldan G. Calag, Allan P. Cadiente and Arnel T. Manuel; and Regulatory Division’s Still B. Kudan.
Among the topics and subjects that were shared were Introduction to Pests and Diseases Monitoring and Surveillance, and Proper Collection of Specimen; Diseases of Highland Vegetables and its control and management; Pest of Highland Vegetables and their control or management; Pest of Rice and their control and management; and Diseases and Pests of Corn and their control and management. Also, parts of the training were hands-on collection of specimens and workshops and presentation of outputs.
Meanwhile, a lecture on mental health awareness was given by Psychologist III Eleonor B. Batnag of the Provincial Health Office to promote emotional well-being to the participants since mental health is said to have a significant impact on work performance.
During the closing ceremony, Executive Assistant John T. Challoy handed over tolkens and certificates of appreciation to the resource speakers and thanked them for sharing their expertise with the participants. By Hail, MP
