The Department of Agriculture- Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) organized a two-day module preparation writeshop for the School-on-the-Air (SOA) on Banana last March 22-23, 2022 at the City Travel Hotel, Baguio City.
The activity aims to produce a comprehensive and informative module of broadcast for SOA course on banana. It was participated in by the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist in Apayao and from the four banana producing municipalities in Pudtol, Flora, Kabugao and Conner, technical commodity experts from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Benguet State University (BSU), and Apayao State College (ASC).
According to studies, radio is the most significant medium for education especially in the rural areas. It is also an effective audio aid device that is capable of providing useful information and learning experiences. For farmers, radio is a potential resource for knowledge dissemination and a source of agricultural knowledge. Mostly, farmers prefer to listen to radio rather than watch television because it is more convenient and accessible to them.
During the activity, Aida Pagtan, Information Section Chief shared that the DA-CAR has been conducting various SOA on different commodities including livestock and poultry. However, it will be the first time that the agency will be conducting a SOA on banana, thus the role of each participant is significant in the preparation of the module course. She emphasized that in writing, participants should consider ways on how the farmer-enrollees would be able to understand each lesson knowing that the medium to be used is radio.
Meanwhile, Ms. Eleanor W. Camut, High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) Assistant Focal Person shared the situation of the banana industry worldwide, in the country, and in the region. She mentioned that banana is identified as one of the priority commodities of the high-value crops aside from mango. Before CY 2012, the Philippines was identified as the 2nd top exporter of banana worldwide. Unfortunately, our export declined after Typhoon Pablo hit the country and devastated the banana industry in Mindanao. Only in 2017 that the country regained its rank.
Moreover, based from April to June 2021 Crops Production data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Cordillera has the least percentage share of production at the national level while Davao Region has the highest percentage share. At the Regional level, in CY 2020, the production of banana in the Cordillera declined because of the Typhoons Maring and Ompong. It was only in CY 2021 that the region has recovered. Among the 6 provinces in CAR, Apayao is the second top producer of banana specifically on lakatan and cardaba. It is also known that banana is the second most grown crop in the province.
The activity had a series of brainstorming, research, writing, presentation, and critiquing of the outputs. Initially, the module course is composed of six major topics with sub-topics. An open forum and discussion were used in enhancing the module topics.
Further, Mr. Marfel Angelo V. Fontanilla, a professor at Apayao State College (ASC) and one of the module writers expressed his gratitude for recognizing the ASC’s potential contribution for the upliftment of agriculture sector in the region. “The writeshop was excellent in a way that it involved multi-stakeholders in developing a wholistic module for banana growers and for the improvement of the banana industry in Apayao. From the academe’s point of view, we have Research and Development Extension efforts but with limited resources, hence, collaboration is the best approach like what we did in this training,” he expressed.
Also, Mr. Roderick C. Paturay, AEW from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist admitted that the activity had helped him gain more knowledge because as a trainor and extension worker, this kind of writeshop is very useful to him.
HVCDP Focal Person Joan D. Bacbac also shared that the agency continues to support farmers in Apayao. “For banana assistance, the agency could only provide planting materials for now, but we want it systematized to ensure the good quality of the planting materials. We will also try to organize related and necessary trainings for Apayao farmers,” she said.
Aside from the usual intervention being given by the farmers, she also announced that it will be the first time that there will be a fertilizer subsidy for high-value crops. A proposal of 201M was submitted for approval and if ever this will push through, a farmer should be enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA), should be DA accredited, and should be DOLE or SEC accredited. For the farmers who are interested to join the KADIWA, they can always tap the agency.
In closing, she thanked everyone for spending their time and for actively participating in the successful implementation of the activity.**LDM
