The NTA Branch Offices in Isabela and Cagayan conducted a joint orientation seminar on Improved Burley and Cigar Filler Tobacco Production for their Operations Staff, held on February 16-17 at the Organic Building of the Department of Agriculture in Tuguegarao City.
Participants were directed on the second day to the model Block Farm in Barangay Masical in Baggao, Cagayan for an onsite observation on the application of the production technology (seed variety, fertilizer application, irrigation, pests and diseases control).
NTA Cagayan Branch Manager Dr. Corazon R. Riazonda said that the seminar provided the staff updates on the Package of Technology on Tobacco Production.
“We have to fully equip them with the proper technologies in helping the tobacco farmers increase their yield, improved the quality of tobacco thus increasing their income,” said Riazonda, who is also the designated Branch Manager of NTA Isabela in concurrent capacity.
Deputy Administrator for Operations Dr. Roberto R. Bonoan in a videocall stressed on the implementation of the Block Farm for tobacco cooperatives or associations as the flagship project of the agency for the next five years. Two model Block Farms have been set up in Cagayan, one in Baggao and the other in Tuao.
According to the Deputy Administrator, these block farms are demonstration farms that showcase the technology on integrated farming approach.
Rosie G. Aquino, DA Regional Technical Director of Research and Regulation commended NTA Cagayan and Isabela for giving their staff opportunity to learn updates on tobacco technology. Adela Teneza, ULPI Director for Agronomy, gave a lecture on the Sustainable Tobacco Program.
All Operations Staff, 11 from NTA Cagayan and 14 from NTA Isabela, joined the field tour facilitated by Manager Riazonda, assisted by Chief Agriculturists Gilbert A. Taguiam (Cagayan) and Joefrey T. Bautista (Isabela). Fernando Andres of the NTA Farm Technology and Services Department, and two agronomists from ULPI, Paul Lucero and Jay Andres, also joined the field tour, highlighted by discussion on the various field activities in the block farm in the presence of the tobacco growers.
[Source: Corazon R. Riazonda FB Account / Photos: Joven Erico E. Reyes]