‘Farmer Scientist Training Program (FSTP) Improves Farm Output’

Before he joined the Farmer-Scientist Training Program (FSTP), Felix Lapaz recalled his frustrations every time he saw low harvest from his farm.

He knew the yields would not be enough to feed his family in time for the next harvesting period. But his miseries ended when he graduated from the FSTP in 2003.

“After my graduation, I applied what I have learned and I started to see improvements in my farm output,” Lapaz said in Cebuano.

Lapaz disclosed that he survived through hard times depending on farming as a means not only to feed his family but also to earn extra income for the education of his five children.

Image Source: cebu.gov.ph

“I sold surplus crops and used what I’ve earned to buy our other needs. Farming was also my primary source of income so I could send my children to school,” said Lapaz, who hails from the upland Barangay Buenavista in Carcar City.

With his inspiring life story as an FSTP graduate crawling out of poverty through farming, Lapaz was chosen as among the 11 Farmer-Scientist Outstanding Achievers, who were awarded by the Cebu provincial government during the 9 th FSTP Congress in the City of Naga on Nov. 29.

In a speech, Gov. Hilario P. Davide III acknowledged the farmers valuable contribution to food security and said that despite the present modernity, the important role of agriculture has never changed.

With this, the provincial government pledged anew its commitment to support the FSTP project, he added.

“Pinaagi sa Farmer- Scientist Training program ang inyong provincial government nagpadayon sa iyang commitment to improve your lives by providing you with skills and technical know-how to become better and more productive farmers,” he stressed.

The Provincial Agriculture Office’s record shows that there are more than 2,000 FSTP experimental fields in 310 barangays in the province and close to 70,000 farmers have graduated from the program.

The governor also vowed that his administration would continue to provide farmers road infrastructure and modern technology to” further develop agricultural practices”.

Image Source: cebu.gov.ph

To increase their income and productivity, Davide urged farmers to engage in agri-business.

During the FSTP Congress, the Capitol distributed farm tools to various farmers’ federations with a total worth of P 1.2 million.

These pieces of equipment were 10 units of corn shellers, which cost P100,000 each, eight animal drawn plow mounted corn seeders with a total worth of P80,000 and 50 units of knapsack sprayers amounting to P190,000.

Aside from equipment, thousands of cassava and potato cuttings were also distributed.

Awardees

Meanwhile, Dr. Romulo Davide, who pioneered the FSTP in his hometown of Argao south of Cebu in 1994, led the awarding of FSTP Outstanding Achievers who received plaques.

Image Source: cebu.gov.ph

The other awardees were Jesus Borbon (Barili), Mario Satueta (Carcar City), Lolito Almadin (Danao City), Avelino Bihag (Consolacion), Danilo Cangmaong (Tuburan), Loreto Balansang (Ginatillan), Leonito Manzanades (Argao), Zosimo Abellanosa (Toledo), Ronilo Dalaguit (Poro), Elsa Geyrozaga (Argao).

Mayors of the eight towns, who made extra efforts for the success of FSTP, were also given recognition.

These mayors included Dean Michael Sinco (Ginatillan), Cynthia Moreno (Aloguinsan), Lionel Bacaltos  (Sibonga), Alfredo Arquillano (San Francisco), Mariano Blanco (Ronda), Democrito Diamante (Tuburan), Erwin Yu (Tudela) and Inoncentes Cabaron (Moalboal).

The FSTP Congress, which attracted close to 2,000 farmers from the province, is an annual event with this year’s theme “Empowering FSTP Farmers to Engage in Farm Business”. (Kelvin Cañizares)

SOURCE: www.cebu.gov.ph