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The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), through the Crop Research and Production Support Division (CRSPD) and National Seed Quality Control Services (BPI-NSQCS) Satellite Region IV-B, conducted field monitoring and site validation at Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, on March 4-7, 2025. The activity aimed to identify suitable sites for potential production areas of requested planting materials such as corn and rice seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, herbs and spices, black pepper, lakatan and vanilla seedlings, mother plant of durian, coffee, cacao, calamansi, duco lanzones, and rambutan.

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Mr. Ernie Lito Bollosa and the monitoring team met with local officials, including Mayor Walter B. Marquez, to discuss how the BPI could assist in establishing plant nurseries in the region. These nurseries are intended to produce high-quality planting materials that would benefit the local community.

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The team visited Salgado Integrated Farm, where they distributed planting materials and assessed the growth of fruit-bearing trees, particularly cacao trees. Mr. Bollosa provided valuable insights on proper tree maintenance and recommended the pruning of stems to help prevent disease and rats from climbing the trees. He also showed actual pruning of some cacao stems, this is to ensure that farmers could apply these practices effectively.

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The team also went to Tuban Sustainable Agroforest Nursery for site validation. Ms. Andrea Camara, the requisitioner of planting materials and president of the Mindoro Island Sustainable Agroforestry Association, Inc., provided the group a tour and introduced them to the Mangyans who are also part of the association.

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During the visit, Ms. Evelyn Emperador, the Satellite Chief of NSQCS Region IV-B, gave an opening message and emphasized the BPI’s commitment in assisting the association in their nursery accreditation processes.

As part of the visit, Mr. Bollosa discussed the nursery establishment and showed an actual demo on lay outing, proper planting and propagation of ube, mulching, grafting, and marcotting.

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Ms. Camara extended her heartfelt gratitude to the agencies for their invaluable support in making the activity possible.

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(031125-13)