Benguet farmers trained on white potato production

July 2, 2017 Community Billboard

Farmers from the municipalities of Atok, Bakun, Buguias, Kibungan and Mankayan attended the two-day hands-on training on white potato production at Northern Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center Benguet State University (NPRCRTC-BSU) last June 20-21, 2017.
The participants were introduced to the varieties of white potato and their characteristics and adaptability. Also, they were thought on how to manage pests and diseases of white potato. Upon their visit to the Tissue Culture Laboratory on the same day, they were able to experience producing white potato through stem cutting and the different processes in potato production from planting up to harvesting. To complete the training, the participants visited farm in Atok on the 2nd day.
Cynthia Kiswa, Senior Science Research Specialist of NPRCRTC-BSU, said that exposing the participants into the fields give them the opportunity to perform the procedure step by step and learn from the testimonies of the farmers.
The activity is part of the celebration of the 29th Anniversary of the Department of Agriculture Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR). As the theme “Developing Our Mountains Together for Sustainable Agriculture and Eco-Tourism” connotes, the department aims to update the knowledge of the farmers on the production technologies on white potato for sustainable Agriculture and Eco-Tourism.
Kiswa, Dr. Ines Gonzales, and Teresita Masangcay from the NPRCRTC-BSU served as the resource persons of the training. PR / ABN