Soldiers undergo seedling production seminar

By Geraldine G. Dumallig

Monday 3rd of September 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Sept 3 (PIA) -- Government troops from the 501st Infantry Brigade based in this city underwent a two-day seminar on seedling production to provide soldiers the needed skills and knowledge to effectively implement their environmental development projects.

In a statement, Brigade Civil Military Operations Officer Captain Richard dela Cruz said 49 officers and enlisted personnel attended the seminar where they were given lectures, demonstration and hands-on training on seedling production by resource persons from the Institute of Agriculture and Forestry of the Kalinga Apayao State College.

Among the topics discussed included nursery and seed preparation, seed growing, soil preparation, transplanting, seed hardening/conditioning, budding, grafting, layering and marcotting, sexual and asexual propagation, and proper supervision on seed production.

Colonel Paul Atal, 501st deputy commanding officer, said the seminar is timely as nations are calling for global campaigns to mitigate climate change and how to produce seedling.

The participants, he said, could apply their acquired skills and knowledge through re-greening and tree-planting activities to help reduce occurrence of floods and erosion due to changing weather conditions.

Colonel Roger Salvador, 501st "Valiant" brigade commander, in a message, also underscored the vital role of every individual like soldiers in taking care of the environment and in helping mitigate climate change through environmental activities such as tree planting and reforestation projects.

He also stressed the need to preserve watersheds to sustain water sources and planting in riversides to prevent denudation that may cause destructive soil erosion.

Atal and Salvador also encouraged the participants to actively participate in the activities that would benefit succeeding generations.

Seed production, they said, aside from helping Mother Earth could also be developed as a livelihood activity.

Through the bayanihan program of the national government, members of the Philippine Army in partnership with various sectors and other government agencies are active in their involvement in community environment programs like tree planting, school cleaning and beautification.

The soldiers will be re-echoing what they have leaned in the barangays to encourage more people to get involved in the seedling productions and tree planting. (JDP/GGD- PIA CAR, Kalinga)