Fifteen farmers and jail officers, including interested farm workers of the Extension Directorate (ED), were trained on Goat Production Technology (GTP) last November 12 at the MMSU Function Hall as part of the ED’s pre-dispersal training for goat. 

The trainees were three officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) of Batac City, two from the Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC) in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; and ten farm workers of MMSU.

They were trained on the latest GPT by Ms. Joan Rarogal, a faculty of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD); Forage Production by Mr. Jerold Labii of the Technology Demonstration (TD) section of the Extension Directorate; and Farm Record Keeping by Dr. Sosima Demandante, chief of TD section of the extension directorate. 

Ms. Bella Gervacio, chief of the training and continuing education (TCE) section, presented the Scheme of Implementation of the Livestock Dispersal Project of the Directorate. 

Participants were also given brochures on Paaduentayo ken Taginayonentayo ti Kanen dagiti Dingo, Organiko a Wagas ti Panangtaraon kadagiti Mula ken Taraken a Dingo, Agaramidtayo iti Binuro a Ruruot, Tapno Alisto a Dumakkel dagiti Taraken a Dingo: Pakanenda iti Urea-Molasses-Mineral Block (UMMB) ken Concentrates, Tarabay iti Naballigi a Panagtaraken iti Dingo, Tarabay iti Panagtaraken iti Dingo iti Panawen ti Tikag, and Agmulatayo iti Madre de Agua  to support the discussion of the different topics. 

The pre-dispersal training was the response of the University to the request of a group of aspiring goat raisers who hope to make their farmlands more productive through integrated farming. The BJMP officials also signified their interest for a new room of growth, noting how BJMP and MMSU nurtured a withstanding project since 2009. The MMSU farm workers also joined the training to enhance their knowledge and skills as they manage the ED’s SHIFT project. 

The pre-dispersal training is a requisite of the Livestock Dispersal Project of the MMSU-ED to ensure that the participants are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills in managing the goats and their farms. 

After the training and signing of contract, improved breeds of goat were given to the participants. These were accompanied by bunches of madre de agua and napier grass as a start-up of their pasture development activities. – by Kimberly S. Miguel, correspondent