Twenty-two interested bamboo growers from Sarrat, Paoay, Currimao, and the City of Batac actively participated in the Enhancement Training on Bamboo Production and Support to Bamboo Growers in Ilocos Norte through INAFES at the MMSU Function Hall this November 19-20.

This is a two-day activity collaboratively conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 1, the Mariano Marcos State University, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Trainers of the training include Prof. Charlie Batin of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) on the Prospect of Bamboo Industry in the Philippines, Bamboo Nursery Establishment, and Plantation and Management of Bamboo; Dr. Roseller Ayson of CAFSD on Rejuvenation of Old Stands and Harvesting of Poles, and Commercial Bamboo Species and their Properties; and Ms. Charito Samsam of the Research Directorate on Bamboo Preservation and Seasoning, and the Cost and Return Analysis for Bamboo Production.

A hands-on demonstration and field visit at the MMSU Bamboo Nursery will also be conducted tomorrow, November 20, to be led by Prof. Batin and the project-in-charge of the Bamboo project, Mr. Roque Mangoma and Mr. Sherwin Aglipay including the other staff of the Extension Directorate.

In the message of MMSU President, Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, she urged everyone to not only put their learnings in their notebooks, not only listen during the training, but to put every learning to their hearts and set a dream with a goal. “With MMSU in Batac and Ilocos Norte, including our supportive partner agencies, sabayantayo dagiti makitatayo nga oportunidad iti dakdakkel a dream. And you assured a no inayonyo ti gagar kadayta a dream, I am confident that you can achieve it”, she added.

PSCA also emphasized the big opportunity of bamboo production being the anchor of exporting quality bamboo products. For this, she urged the participants that ‘this [opportunity] goes back to you, our bamboo growers. You are all in this big dream for the bamboo industry’.

In support to the discussions in the training, the participants were also provided with IEC materials on the One-Node Technology and the Pole per Year (PopeYe) Technology. This shall serve as additional learning material from the training proper.

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