The Provincial Agriculturist’s Office conducted a series of six lecture-cum-seminars on Organic Farming and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) for Indigenous People and farmers in each of the upland communities of Victoria, Socorro, and Bansud on October 12-15, 2021. About 130 farmers and IPs from Barangays Merit and Concepcion, Victoria, Barangays Ma. Concepcion, Happy Valley and Bugtong na Tuog, Socorro and Barangay Rosacara in Bansud have participated in the activity.

Hon. Benito C. Pagcaliwagan, the Barangay Chairman of Bugtong na Tuog, Socorro was thankful of the opportunity provided by PAgO especially for the IPs who needs to be capacitated and updated on current and sustainable farming practices. The PAgO staff were composed of Mr. Francisco Dapito, Market Specialist II and Mr. Jonjon Ballenas who provided the lectures and Ms. Lariza Metante, the lead facilitator. IEC materials and lecture hand-outs were also distributed to the participants.

The topics presented include Components of Organic Farming, Organic Vegetable Farming, Management Practices in Vegetable Farming, Pest Management in Vegetables, Harvesting and Marketing of Produce, Basic Information and Components of IPM and IPM Strategies of Pest and Diseases of Banana, Calamansi and Coconut.

To further uplift agricultural development in these communities, two farm-to-market road (FMR) projects are proposed by the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro with the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture. The two FMR projects aligned for funding are the 7.22-kilometer Rosacara FMR in Bansud and the 10.73-kilometer Merit to Bugtong na Tuog FMR which will traverse the five barangays in the Municipality of Victoria and Socorro. The Provincial Government is fast tracking the documentary requirements for the commencement of these projects which will benefit about 1400 households and 6500 Mindoreños majority of which are farmers growing coconut, rice, banana, calamansi, vegetables and fruit trees such as rambutan, lanzones and durian.