BACOLOD CITY — The newly-opened Negros First Organic Technology Center (NFOTEC) will train inmates of the Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) on organic agriculture starting this month.
Japhet Masculino, head of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, said a licensed instructor would hold the trainings through the Farmers Field School scheme.
The PHP3-million NFOTEC facility is situated in the vicinity of the jail located in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City.
Masculino said the NODJ’s 7,000-square meter available lot could be linked to the center for agriculture crop production.
The season-long training could benefit the inmates especially after they had served their sentence and left the jail, he added.
Masculino said the facility would mainly serve as training venue for organic practitioners.
He added that part of the plan was to offer an organic agriculture course accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Also located near the Negros First Rice Processing Center, the NFOTEC will also serve as production area for various organic commodities such as organic rice, vegetables, free-range chicken, and black pig.
“While empowering existing organic practitioners, the technology center will also help us encourage future organic farming advocates,” Masculino said.
According to OPA records there are at least 17,000 organic adaptors, with a total area of 16,000 hectares, in Negros Occidental. (Erwin Nicavera/PNA)
