26 Norala farmers graduate from DAR-Farm Business School
AGRICULTURE • 16:15 PM Thu Aug 22, 2019
2
By:
Leidenep M. Yecla/DAR South Cotabato
The FBS graduates from Norala, South Cotabato. (LMY)
NORALA, South Cotabato - The Department of Agrarian Reform-Farm Business School (DAR-FBS) in Barangay San Jose, Norala South Cotabato built by DAR, other line agencies and local government unit have produced 26 farmers cum business persons.
This is the 8th FBS site established by the department since 2015.
There were 26 farmers who successfully completed the 25 sessions of the season long program. The journey was not easy but the graduates proved that excuses were not an option for a person who has a strong determination to finish the race.
According to Mayani Palomo, FBS graduate, she learned a lot from the school.
“Madamo gid kami natun-an sa FBS, una kailangan gali na mag-diagnose kita sa aton nga uma agud to mabal-an ta kung ano ang dapat na itanum sa area ta. Ikaduha, gintudluan kita paano mag-plano sa aton uma ug paano kini i-implement. Gitudluan kita sang supplementary kag complementary enterprise kag diversified farming,” she said.
She also shared her experiences in farming before she enrolled for FBS and she found out a lot of things to be improved.
“Tani tanan nga gintudlo sa aton aton gid gamiton sa pagpanguma para magtaas man ang aton nga income,” Palomo added.
Indeed, FBS is a paradigm shifting for every farmer. They now consider their farm as a business and that would make them as farmer entrepreneurs.
All the graduates happily received their certificates and other awards including the small farm tools such as knapsack sprayer, shovel, rake and bolo.
In addition, the Department of Agriculture RFO XII also distributed vegetable seeds that can be used for starting vegetable production.
"Kanang certificate papel lang na, pwede mawala, pero ang inyo nga mga natun-an sa pag-skwela ninyo, kana dili gyud mawala or makuha" said DAR-12 Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ludenia Juanday.
Also everyone was inspired by the message of Jaybee S. Talatala, guest speaker.
"Farmers are one of the most important people because you feed the nation three times a day. Without farmers there will be no teachers, doctors, engineers, politicians and others," he said.
Officials said the activity would not be as successful as this without the strong collaboration among the stakeholders.