Some 25 farmer-members of the Canta-ub Visayan Eskaya Farmers Association (CAVESFA) of the Eskaya Tribe in Barangay Canta-ub, Sierra Bullones, Bohol participated in the two-day training on corn and vegetable production held on May 22-23 at their barangay hall.
The training conducted by the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) through the Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks) was aimed to provide the indigenous people (IP) with new farming technologies and complement with their norms and culture.
4Ks is a special program of DA that aims to develop the ancestral domains of the indigenous people (IP) to improve its productivity through the provision of agri-fishery related opportunities and support services, in consideration of their customs, traiditon, values, beliefs and interests.
Leonila Gono, DA7’s 4K Regional Focal, shared that DA is here to support the IPs like the Eskaya Tribe in Bohol, for them to learn new technologies on corn production to achieve an increase in production and boost farmer’s income.
Leonila Gono, DA7’s 4K Regional Focal, shared that DA is here to support the IPs like the Eskaya Tribe in Bohol, for them to learn new technologies on corn production to achieve an increase in production and boost farmer’s income.
“Sa unom ka tuig na sa 4Ks, kanunay namo nag-apil sa trainings, kabalo naman pud mo magtanom og mais, so, mga doctorate namo ani nga training. Siguro gamay na lang nga needs ninyo sama sa pest and diseases management. Nanghinaot pud ko, ug ang 4Ks, nga dili lang ta kutob sa production or consumption, kundi naa napud unta tay ma-market puhon, kay mao gyud nay tumong sa atong programa,” she expressed.
(4K is now on its sixth year, and you were able to join in the many trainings given, so you already knew how to plant corn. And with this, you need few technologies like pest and diseases management. We look forward that you won’t limit to production or consumption, but rather you will have the marketing skills, because this is the goal of the program.)
The training provided the CAVESFA members with topics on corn production, management of pests and diseases, application of fertilizers, local cropping patterns, land preparation, and potential yield with the use of the appropriate variety.
James Datahan, the DA7’s 4K Bohol Coordinator, discussed the proposed establishment of a communal corn production, sharing the specific roles and responsibilities of the CAVESFA officers in managing, leading, and marketing their produce, not just in corn but also in vegetables.
Aside from the training, the group received foliar fertilizers, high-breed yellow corn seeds, and farm inputs such as seedling trays, and shovels.
Eskaya tribal chieftain in Canta-ub, Carina Juyad, expressed her gratitude to the DA for the continued support of their farming activities.
“Wala koy laing masulti sa 4Ks kundi daghang salamat sa inyong pagsuporta labi na sa inyong gipanghatag na seeds sauna na amo nang napahimuslan, naharvest, og nabaligya. Unya karon, aduna napuy laing binhi,” she exclaimed.
(No words to say for the 4K program, but only thank you for the support extended like the seeds you previously gave. We planted it and were able to harvest and market our produce. Another batch of seeds will be given.)
An additional organic fertilizers and high-breed corn seeds will soon be delivered to the group in support for the dry season cropping.
