MMSU ITC joins Burgos’ Pul-oy Fest

Written by Administrator on 04 March 2020

            In celebration of the 7th Pul-oy Festival of the Municipality of Burgos, the Mariano Marcos State University-Information and Technology Caravan (MMSU-ITC) continues to disseminate and promote information, products, and technologies produced by the University including its assisted-beneficiaries.  The activity was conducted on February 25-28, 2020 in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.

The MMSU-ITC is a mobile exhibit booth that highlights results of its research initiatives, promote products of its assisted entrepreneurs, and promote other products and technologies from its partner-agencies. With this project, the University continues to bring MMSU services closer to the people. 

Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials reaches hands of Burgoseño

             In time with the Agri-Trade Fair, IEC materials were distributed to community members who visited the exhibit booth.  These include group of women, youth, budding entrepreneurs, farmers and community leaders, including students.

            Among the IEC materials distributed include crop and livestock production technologies, health services, and livelihood and processing technologies.   

Promotion and Marketing of Research Products 

 As a result of the various researched conducted by the University, various products were developed and exhibited for wider reach.  These include the Engineered Kawayan or the e-kawayan, the phenomenal black Garlic dubbed as the ‘Black Diamond of the North’, the new Nipahol, a nipa-based alcohol, and the Yam Delights from techno-preneurship on kamangeg, an indigenous root crop in Luzon.  These products are introduced to the public to increase their awareness on the potentials of crops growing abundantly in Ilocos Norte. By tapping into these indigenous and abundant resources, more livelihood and enterprise may be generated to increase the income of the family. The E-Kawayan, for example, has become a source of livelihood and additional income of the member of the Asosasion ti Partuat ti E-Kawayan in San Lorenzo, Bangui.

The E-Kawayan project of the University promotes and markets its bamboo tissue holder, glass and cup holder, cellphone holder, table organizer, and other souvenir items. These products serve as evidence of the multitude of products that can be made from growing bamboo poles, through the One-Node Technology and PoPeYe technology developed by researchers from MMSU. The Yam Delights, with its pasensia, chocolate cookies, and lenggua de cerda, are also a hit among young children, choosing a healthier and more delectable snack.

Other products of the University promoted during the 4-day exhibit are the different species of bamboo ideal for landscaping purposes, mango collectibles such as the MMSU Gold and Nanducmai, ornamental plants and the madre de agua, a favourite forage for livestock.

As more and more community members get to be interested in these products, complementary IEC materials were given away. With these materials, it is hoped that more community people will walk through the gates of the University for their adoption of these information and technologies.

Skills Demonstration on Grafting and Bonsai Wiring

             Another highlight of the ITC was the conduct of the skills demonstration on fruit grafting and bonsai wiring on February 27.  Mr. Oscar Guerrero of the University Nursery demonstrated cleft grafting in mangoes and fruit trees while Mr. Jojo Battulayan of the Horticulture Project demonstrated bonsai wiring.

In time with the civic day of the municipality, men and women, young and old, professionals and all, were trained on grafting and bonsai wiring. Cleft graft was specifically taught for mangoes and other fruit-being trees, with Mr. Guerrero giving practical tips and pointers in grafting. Grafting is a profitable livelihood that allows shorter year of waiting before the grafted trees could bear fruit, atop its readiness for sale as grafted fruit trees.

Bonsai wiring was also a notch among bonsai enthusiasts in the area, since this skill can be applied even to the most favourite flowering plant of women. With best results, this is a profitable venture since bonsai plants are easily sold to bonsai collectors and landscaping activities.

With these demonstrations, mango collectibles such as the MMSU Gold are hoped to reach these communities to bring back the vibrance and glow of the mango industry in the Ilocos. The Bonsai School of the University is also hoped to become more vibrant as enthusiasts and practitioners come and display their kind of bonsai plants and seek more assistance from the University.

Unsolicited Feedbacks and Testimonies of Community Members

 In addition, with the conduct of the ITC, unsolicited feedbacks from community members that earlier participated in the ITC and were able to avail its services happily provided MMSU some of their feedbacks.

 Daytoy ti bungana dayta salamagi nga insilpoyo, says MAFC Chairman Gil Eleno Briones from Poblacion Burgos, after he attended the skills demonstration on grafting of fruit trees.  Naimas ken nasam-it. Adu ti bungana. Ginatang ni misisko daydi immulana kadakayo sangapulon a tawen ti napalabas idi um-umaykayo ditoy Burgos, MAFC Chairman Briones added in his testimony.  Burgos was just one of the municipalities in Ilocos Norte which invited MMSU-ITC during the celebration of their fiestas and other special occasions since 2001. 

 Promotion and Marketing of Products of Assisted Entrepreneurs  

 With the continuing assistance of the University in the promotion of the product of its assisted entrepreneurs, the Extension Diretcroate lobbies a bigger and wider market of their quality products.

Among the products promoted and sold in the booth are the One-Barangay-One-Product (OBOP) products of the City of Batac such as rice crispies of Camguidan MPC in Camguidan and the peanut-based products of Peanut Processors Association in Quiling Norte.  

Products of assisted beneficiaries of the University such as jewelry and shell crafts by the members of the Saud Shellcraft Producers Association in Saud, Pagudpud and products of assisted entrepreneurs such as the chips and chichacorn of Lucky Theo’s Food Products and the rice coffee and other organic products of SCUFYND Food products are also continuously promoted in the booth.

The ITC is one of the deliberate strategies of the Directorate to reach the community people through serving as a mobile IT booth. Through this, more community people are informed and empowered with the various IECs reaching their hands, more services that enrich their skills and knowledge reaching their locations, bridging and closing the gap of Batac to any point of Ilocos Norte. 

For those who are interested to invite the MMSU-ITC, please write the University President Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis.   You may also visit the Facebook account of the Extension Directorate, MMSU Extension Directorate or http://extension.mmsu.edu.ph/.

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