Sendin Attends the Training of Trainers for Long Term Harvest Through Facility Cultivation
Dr. Francis S. Sendin, an agriculture faculty member of the ISAT U Leon Campus has successfully completed the Training of Trainers (TOT) for Long Term Harvest Through Facility Cultivation under the Market-driven Enhancement of Vegetable Value Chain (MV2C) project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) thru the Agricultural Training Institute – Cordillera Autonomous Region (ATI-CAR), in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Said TOT was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 was held last April 14-17, 2026, while Phase 2 was conducted last July 7-9, 2026, at ATI – CAR in Benguet State University (BSU) Compound in La Trinidad, Benguet. Dr. Aki Kubota, a horticulturist of the MV2C Project, served as the Resource Person of the TOT. She was also a soil science expert and earned her Ph. D. in Soil Science.
MV2C project focused on long-term harvesting techniques specifically for tomatoes and peppers. Trials were implemented in the municipalities of Atok, Bugias, Manyakan, and Kibungan in the province of Benguet from 2023 to 2025. These trials yielded promising results, making it a technology ripe for dissemination not just in Benguet but also in areas of the country with comparable agro-climatic conditions. Hence, this TOT was conducted. Various topics and hands-on activities took place during the said training. Participants were briefed about the MV2C Project.
Topics included soil analysis and fertilizer recommendation, soil conditioning through green manuring, grafting of tomato seedlings, tomato and sweet pepper cultivation method for long term harvesting, plant nutrition diagnosis, pests and disease management and planning of cropping systems.
“Hands-on activities included were the use soil test kit (STK), grafting of tomato seedlings and site visits to the successful farmers in the municipalities of Bugias and Kibungan and Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAg) of Benguet.
During the Phase 2, a total of nine delegates composed the team from Region 6. Particularly, one from ATI – RTC 6, two from DA – RFO 6, one from Iloilo OPAg, two Agricultural Extension Workers and Gulayan Sa Bayan (GSB) anchor members from municipalities of Tubungan and Igbaras while Dr. Sendin represented the Iloilo Young Agripreneurs Association (IYAA) GSB based in La Guerta Verde de ISAT U in Leon, Iloilo.
As one of the participants in the said training, I was so thankful and grateful for the opportunity given by the Department of Agriculture. I have learned a lot and excited to share the additional learnings gained to our students, farmers and community. Knowing the limited resources of the University allotted for trainings, this training was a boost to extension services beyond the classrooms. Looking forward for a collaborative and productive endeavor in vegetable farming among our stakeholders. Thank you so much ISAT U, the Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Training Institute”, said Dr. Sendin.
As part of the commitment, action planning was done and presented during the closing session. The team was expected to cascade the technology to their respective regions and provinces.
Written by: The Green Thumb Publication
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