Capitol Recognizes 10 Outstanding FSTP Agriprenuers

The Cebu Provincial Government recognized 10 outstanding Farmer-Scientist Training Program (FSTP) alumni in Cebu Province for increased farm production.

Governor Hilario P. Davide III awarded the farmer-scientists with plaques in the 8th FSTP Congress held at the Minglanilla Sports Complex last November 11.

He was flanked by his uncle Agriculture Consultant (Php 1 a year) Dr. Romulo G. Davide, Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña, and Marina Hermoso, Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 assistant regional director.

Gov. Davide also reiterated that the 45 of the 51 component cities and towns, who joined the FSTP program, will get Php 1 million from the Capitol next year.

“Sa Enero o Pebrero sunod tuig, mogawas na ang mga ayuda (Php 1 million) sa mga lungsod nga adunay FSTP,” he said.

Gov. Davide also praised the LGUs for accepting the program as it has been proven as effective in increasing the income of the farmers.

The Provincial Agriculturist Office also distributed farm sprayers, drip irrigation units, and camote cuttings at the Congress.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale also assured the around one thousand participants of the Congress of the provincial board’s continued support of the FSTP.

The awardees were Prescillo Albores of Sudlon II, Cebu City; Emma Bebanco of Poro; Vitalian Borja of Cogon, Tuburan; Jovencio Lanticse of Argao; Jorge Llego of Ronda; Joseph Montanes of Argao; Arlene Montejo of Sudlon II Cebu City, Columbos Radan of Jagbuaya, Tuburan; Cesar Ramil of Taba-ao, Tabogon; and Vicente Ybanez of Bantayan, Cebu.

The awardees were called exemplary agri-entrepreneurs. They are, in the words of Dr. Davide, those “napugos ug ka dato” by following the FSTP formula: “Kogi, Kusog, Antos Ampo plus Merkado.”

Columbos Radan, 62, said his income from corn multiplied into several thousand after becoming a farmer-scientist in 2004.

Before he joined FSTP, Radan said the annual income in his one hectare farm only reached up to only Php 30 thousand. After learning and adopting the best technology in FSTP, his annual income rose to Php 515 thousand per hectare.

“Ako man gi-record ang abot sa akong uma. Dili nimo mamatikdan nga mao ni imong kita kay magasto mana nimo kada adlaw. Pero tungod sa FSTP nakapaeskuyla kos lima nako ka anak sa college,” he said.

Radan was also able to buy two (2) motorcycles and he plans to buy the farmland he is leasing for Php 2 thousand a year. He said the owner already expressed interest to sell the property for Php 1.2 million.

“Paningkamotan nako nga ako ang makapalit pinaagi sa abot sa akong panguma,” he further said.

Radan said he will also plant squash side by side with his corn, and an eggplant in a separate strip.

Emma Bebanco, a neophyte farmer-scientist who is only in her third cropping season, said she already experienced the benefits of FSTP.

In the last cropping season, she was to able to generate a net production of 500 kilos of corn in her one hectare farm.

She said FSTP taught them how to maximize the utilization of their farm. Aside from planting corn, she said they also learned to intercrop it with coconuts, peanuts, and mongo.

www.cebu.gov.ph