TALIBON. - Some 46 farmers completed recently the nine months seminar workshop on IPM Season Long Training on Banana Production conducted at barangay Balintawak, this town. The training was designed to equip the participating farmers on the new technology on banana production. It was conducted at the area own by Valeriano Garcia who voluntarily offered his lot to serve as the demo farm. The selected participants are coming from the 25 barangays of the town who are willing to participate and interested to learn the new technology. Ponciana Cruda, Agricultural Technologist of the town and Bienvenido Acabal, Jr., Agriculturist II and the Banana Focal Person of DA R-7 facilitated the nine-months-training.

Ribbon cutting was conducted at the demo before some guests and visitors made a tour inside the demo farm area. Visitors were given a chance to ask some questions to the farmers about the manner of application of the new technology. The program was continued at the barangay cultural center were lunch was served to the farmers and visitors. Short program was conducted hosted by Jett Boyles and Manuel Jayectin. Judith Garay, municipal agricultural officer gave the opening remarks and welcome address. Mayor Restituto Auxtero, in his message, expressed thanks to Director Ricardo Oblena, executive director of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 7 for the millions of assistance and for the new banana technology brought to this town. He also reiterated his promise during his campaign about his commitment to support all the priority projects like the mainland and marine agriculture.

He further encouraged everybody to be involved in the planning process for the good and development of the town and challenge the farmers to sustain the projects. In parting, he said his administration has the budget for use to pay P20.00. P10 for the banana planted and another P10 for the fertilizer. Director Oblena reported that Bohol Province is considered as the rice granary of the Central Visayas Region because of the presence of three big dams like Bayungan, Malinao and Zamora Dam. He said that this province is suitable for the high valued commercial crops like rice, corn, banana, rootcrops. He further encouraged the graduates to apply their acquired technology in their farmland and share it to others. Engr. Eugene Cahiles, project manager of the Agricultural Promotion Center informed the graduates that banana was one of the growing industries in Bohol. (Onad Munalem)