Minglanilla farmers to become ‘scientists’

CEBU, Philippines – At least 60 farmers finished the first phase of the Farmer-Scientists Training Program (FSTP) in Minglanilla town, making them closer to being called farmer-scientists.

“Sa una, kami ra’y mokaon sa among mais kay gamay ra man ang ani. Karon nga kahibalo na mi unsaon ang saktong pagtanom, modaghan man diay,” said Francisco Cabrera, 61, one of the farmers who enrolled in the four-month training.

Cabrera said the program’s first phase involves planting, which started on June 18. They are now moving to the second phase where they can apply what they have learned from June to September.

The 61-year-old farmer said he has a small plantation of corn in his farm in Barangay Camp 7, Minglanilla, but the harvest is only good for their own consumption. He said with the new techniques he got from FSTP, he hopes to augment his corn production.

The 60 farmers used several varieties of corn in a test field in Barangay Tungkop.

Cabrera said the provincial government, which spearheaded the program, is enjoining them to plant the Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) corn type, as it is commonly consumed by Filipino households.

Capitol consultant on agriculture Dr. Romulo Davide said there is money in agricultural products like camote and corn, if only the farmers plant more of these in their farms. He said these products are also “anti-diabetes.”

The OPV corn variety can yield up to 4.5 tons in one hectare or doubles yield for the “tinigib,” a local corn (“Bisaya” as the farmers put it), which only yields 2.5 tons in a hectare.

Another corn variety is the “hybrid,” which can harvest 6.5 tons to 7 tons in a hectare.

Cabrera said the province and the local government of Minglanilla supported them all the way with the program by providing the seeds, fertilizer and their other needs.

In the third and final phase of FSTP, if the farmers have succeeded in the program through replicating the test to their own farmlands, they will be certified as farmer-scientists.

Mayor Lani Peña, who was guest speaker during yesterday’s event, said the more farmer-scientists the town will have, the more food-sufficient their town will become.