23/05/2025
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โ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ข๐๐ง ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ
by FELIZARDO JR. G. ARADOR & JOSEPH D. TABIOSAS
Third-year students of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Animal Husbandry of Catanduanes State University โ College of Agriculture and Fisheries (CatSU-CAF) had the chance to have a hands-on experience in conducting extension service entitled, โSmart Farmingโ with the theme, โStrengthening farmers livelihood through Organizational and Financial Management and Livestock Disease Managementโ providing technical assistance to a Farmerโs Association in Brgy. Cabihian, Virac โ May 19.
The students invited resource speakers from the CAFโs experts pool to lecture on livestock disease management, organizational, and financial management.
The lecture proper commenced with a discussion on livestock disease management given by Dr. John Joseph M. Camu, the CatSUโs veterinarian. He emphasizes the different diseases attacking on livestock and their control or prevention tactics. The second topic, focusing on managing the organization, was discussed by Engr. Jhomann U. Socito, where he encouraged the Cabihian Farmersโ Association to have a strong internal foundation, such as revisiting and revising their constitution and by-laws, linkage with other organizations, and to always secure records as a primary requirement in availing funds from various agencies. Lastly, the financial management with Ms. Krisha Nell B. Lopez as the keynote speaker. She highlighted the importance of proper recording, which includes the financial aspect of the organization, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The topics discussed were decided in accordance with the results of the community needs assessment conducted by the students themselves. They planned and organized the abovementioned extension activity as a requirement in the subject, AGRI12 (Management of Extension Programs), as part of their coursework this semester. It is necessary for them to be exposed to such activities to understand the real deal of extension workers in the actual field.
โFulfilled! Ganyan ko ilalarawan ang naging experience ko sa extension activity na โto. Kasama ang aming mga propesor, nakapagbahagi kami ng bagong kaalaman sa mga farmers,โ Airon Jhones Ruel, one of the students, expressing his overall experience on the activity.
A total of 20 farmer-participants actively attended the one-day seminar, raising their queries after the discussion. They were specifically interested in livestock disease management after their nightmare experience on the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) depopulating their hard-earned hogs.
โMagayon su experience mi uya [referring to the extension activity] lalo na sa mga lectures ta very informative saka magagaling ang mga speakers, su mga kahaputan mi, nasisimbag diretso,โ said in an interview with the lupon of Brgy. Cabihian, Ms. Leonides Alintana.
The students were accompanied by the CAF faculty members and the extension coordinator, as well as their AGRI13 instructor, Mr. Ruel T. Tarroquin. The CatSU OIC President, Dr. Roberto B. Barba Jr., is also in attendance and gave an inspirational message to the farmers.
