TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite – The Department of Agriculture 4-A (Calabarzon) is offering 150 training slots for its lecture and hands-on training on mushroom production.
Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) 4-A information chief, Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, said the “Mushroom Production” seminar, the third of a seven-part free training series, will be held at the Office of the City Veterinarian and Agricultural Services Training Hall in Bolbok village, Batangas City on Sept. 11.
As DA’s extension training arm, ATI is conducting seven batches of one-day free seminars on various agricultural commodities from August to November this year.
"We already offered two this August, one for September and upcoming are two seminar topics for the months of October and November, to complete the seven," Maningas said.
The training will focus on various technologies on the production of herbs and spices, vegetables, mushroom, and corn, as well as beekeeping, and production of livestock, specifically native pigs.
The seminar series, which opened this month, began with herbs and spices, held at the Cultural Center of Laguna in Sta. Cruz, Laguna last Aug. 14, and which benefitted some 130 farmers and farming enthusiasts from Laguna and nearby provinces.
ATI-Calabarzon Center Director Marites Piamonte-Cosico, along with Laguna Provincial Agriculturist Marlon Tobias, led last week's seminar, where participants gained knowledge on production technology, cultural management, pests and diseases, and processing of herbs and spices from featured resource speakers Renato Ignacio and Frene C. dela Cruz from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Laguna.
Ignacio emphasized the importance and benefits of herbs and spices while dela Cruz, Provincial Alternate Organic Focal Person of Laguna, discussed the common pests and diseases that affect herbs and spices, such as aphids, which cause sooty molds.
The second training seminar for this month, to be held at the Farmers-Fishermen Hall of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist here Friday, targets current and interested hog raisers as it will focus on native pig production.
DA-ATI encourages walk-in participants although interested farmers may also register online for their pre-registration of seats.
The seminar series is in line with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol’s directive to make agriculture more accessible to people and in support of the DA’s thrust to promote safe production of food for every household and food security, Maningas added. (PNA)
