01/06/2026
The Bureau of Plant Industry โ Baguio National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center (BPI-BNCRDPSC) successfully conducted a one-day training entitled โCapacity Building on Improved Cacao Production: Clonal Propagation, Nursery Management, and Orchard Establishment and Rehabilitationโ on May 28, 2026, at the Multi-purpose Hall, Pappa, Sablan, Benguet. The activity was conducted in line with the bureauโs continuing commitment to support and empower farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) through the provision of technical knowledge, quality planting materials, and technical assistance aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development.
The training was attended by forty-five (45) participants composed of local cacao growers and processors, representatives from the Local Government Unit (LGU), Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAG), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), members of the Retired Miner Employees and Dependents Association (REMINEDAP), and various cacao growers of Sablan, Benguet. The active participation of stakeholders underscored the increasing interest in strengthening cacao production and promoting livelihood opportunities within the municipality.
The activity primarily aimed to enhance the technical capability of local cacao growers in the production of asexually propagated cacao seedlings through the application of proper propagation techniques and improved nursery management practices. It also sought to introduce recommended cultural management practices for cacao production, familiarize participants with the processes involved in plant nursery accreditation and plant material certification, and strengthen their knowledge and skills in the identification and management of common pests and diseases affecting cacao.
In addition to the lectures and hands-on demonstrations conducted during the training, the Center, in collaboration with the NSQCS-CAR team, expressed its commitment to assist interested cacao growers in complying with the requirements for nursery accreditation and plant material certification. This initiative aims to ensure the production and distribution of quality, disease-free, and certified planting materials that will contribute to the long-term sustainability and productivity of the local cacao industry in the municipality.
-VAB
