1st Tobacco Production Training Helps 150 Benguet Farmers

Source from:  sunstar.com.ph 05/29/2006

ANOTHER 50 farmers, nine of them women, from the towns of Sablan, Kapangan and Tuba, Benguet, finished their schooling under the First Philippine Upland Tobacco Production training program initiated by the Trans-Manila Inc. and Phillip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc (PMI). Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo This year's graduates, recognized during Friday's ceremonies at the Ben Palispis Auditorium, Provincial Capitol brought to 150 the number of Benguet farmers now equipped with the latest technology and know-how in planting Virginia tobacco, considered a high cash crop and could be used as an alternate produce to vegetables. Three of them were recognized as best performing farmers for crop year 2006 - Carlos Tayben (Kamog, Sablan), Efren Barino (Paykek, Kapangan), and Pepe Malogat (Ansagan, Tuba); two as best farmer-leaders - Manolo Mat-an (Parasipis, Tabaan Norte, Tuba) and Sato Tino (Ansagan, Tuba); another three as most promising farmers - Mila Bayangan (Parasipis, Tabaan Norte), Amboy Bayangan (Parasipis) and Joseph Paran (Palino, Taloy Sur, also in Tuba); while four were commended as best farmer-students - (Elias Nepahoy, Tabaan Norte), Francisco Gam-ad (Kamog, Sablan), Elson Bantasan (Datakan, Kapangan) and Juanito Camoda (Ansagan, Tuba). "Benguet farmers received the most comprehensive tobacco planting training (from among other tobacco farmers in the country)," said PMI managing director Chris Nelson. Nelson and Trans-Manila executive vice president Matthew Diong both stressed that PMI and Trans-Manila would continue to train farmers on how to cultivate tobacco for as long as concerned local government units (LGUs) are committed to planting the crop. This is a partnership between the farmers, LGU officials, PMI and Trans-Manila, they added. The training program is on its third year with 50 farmers graduating annually. Aside from the three towns, PMI and Trans-Manila also tapped farmers from Kibugan to benefit from the support and technology transfer program. Meanwhile, PMI and Trans-Manila also led in the ceremonial distribution of forest tree seedlings to representatives of the four towns as well as turned over paints to the La Trinidad Central School, received by coordinating principal Vicente Puguon, for the painting of school buildings. Enditem