The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), with the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), held a training on Fruit and Vegetable Nursery Management on November 22 to 23 in Guinayangan, Quezon.

The team of researchers and staff led by Dr. Lavernee Gueco, head of the IPB National Plant Genetic Resources Laboratory (NPGRL), sought to equip the Brgy. Lubigan participants with knowledge of managing local fruit nurseries.

Ms. Lyka Yanos, university researcher, talked about how to establish and manage fruit nurseries. Mr. Paulo Jerome Lopez, farm supervisor, discussed the different methods of plant propagation with the assistance of Mr. Joseph Bataller and Mr. Roland Billion, administrative aides.

Afterwards, the participants joined various hands-on activities, where they learned different asexual propagation techniques including grafting, marcotting, inarching, and budding.

Meanwhile, the training on vegetable nursery management was held simultaneously at Brgy. Dungawan. Mr. Elmer Enicola and Mr. Villamor Ladia, Jr., university researchers, taught participants about establishing and managing vegetable nurseries.

This is part of DA and IPB’s collaboration on the seed systems projects which aim to provide trainings to strengthen technical capacities of seed growers, associations, and cooperatives. (Juvelle P. Villanueva)