BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – A total of 50 farmers in Sitio Afga successfully completed the two-day Abaca Management Training, spearheaded by Army’s 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion from August 17 to 18, 2022 held at Sitio Afga, Barangay Lower Olave, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.

The two-day activity was in line with the efforts of the unit in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), and the Local Government Unit of Buenavista.

The objective of this activity is to educate the farmer’s organization of Sitio Afga on the proper way of Abaca farming. This training will result to  other sources of income as it will be applied to their daily farming activities. It is  part of the government's intervention in alleviating the lives of our farmers and giving them the right track on farming methods and the right technology.

Mr. Jhovany dela Rosa, Provincial Agriculturist, PhilFida, was the guest lecturer together with Ms. Marnelli Racsa as the instructor of the said activity.

The barangay officials of Lower Olave were thankful to the collaboration of the 23IB, DA, and PhilFIDA and for the support given to the residents of Sitio Afga. In a statement by one of the officials: “Daku namong kalipay ug pasalamat nga nahatagan mi ug higayon ug unta dili malugda ang mga ahensya sa atong gobyerno kauban sa DA, PhilFIDA, 23IB ug ang uban pa sa pagtabang kanamo.”

The training honed Indigenous Peoples skills and knowledge on abaca production and management through hands-on lessons on conservation and agroforestry methods, with technical skills, and enterprise development. It also prepared them to become advocates against practices that would negatively impact the environment. (23rd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)