By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew M. Manotoc has completed the Executive Seminar on Agriculture and Rural Development under the Competency Development Program of the MMSU College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD). 

Manotoc and his executive assistant, Atty. Juan Alfonso Augustus I. Jose, underwent four sessions of the said seminar online from October to November.

They received their certificates in an awarding ceremony held at the Social Innovation and Partnership Hub (SIP) last November 16. 

“I can now proudly say I’m a stallion,” said Manotoc in his Instagram post, and he expressed gratitude to University President Shirley C. Agrupis and to the college for the learning opportunity. 

“Considering how vital agriculture is to Ilocos Norte and how much we invest in it, I needed to learn more [about the field],” he expressed. 

The seminar enabled the participants to increase their understanding of agriculture and rural development for them to better execute programs in these areas. It was composed of topics on agriculture and fisheries development; soil science; irrigation and climate change mitigation; horticultural crop development process; animal science; marketing and agribusiness; postharvest handling; food processing technologies; and bamboo industry – all aligned with local community development. 

The CAFSD’s Competency Development Program aims to enhance the capabilities of local executives in support of the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension System (INAFES).  

Dr. Joselito I. Rosario, CAFSD dean, serves as program coordinator, along with Prof. Geovanni Stanley Malab, OIC-chairperson of the Agricultural Sciences department, and Dr. Marlowe Aquino, director of Science and Technology Park.

The program will also provide short-term courses on agriculture for local government officials and agricultural extension workers.

To be implemented next year, the courses will be on organic fertilizer production, crop production, animal production, product development, and other support mechanisms, depending on the result of the participants’ training needs assessment. (StratCom)