Engr. Ballano shares his experiences as Darag chicken farmer entrepreneur

The College of Agriculture, University Research and Development Center (URDC) and University Extension and Development Center (UEDC) conducted a forum on Improving Growth and and Reproductive Performance of  Darag through Science and Technology last  March 15,2017 at the Research and Extension Building in West Visays State University. Farmer-entrepreneurs as well as project stakeholders held a lively sharing of Darag chicken raising and marketing experiences with the participants.

To further enrich the knowledge of the participants, resource speakers were tapped to share their expertise on the technicalities of raising healthy and profitable Darag chickens. ISCOF faculty member Engr. Salvador Ballano, Jr. shared his personal experience as a Darag chicken entrepreneur. WESVARRDEC Director Prof. Lucia  Lastimosa talked about feeding formulation sourced from vegetables. Meanwhile CAF faculty member and Darag focal person Dr. Helen Genandoy shared the road map of Darag by farmer-entrepreneurs.

Darag farmers consult with Darag focal person Dr. Helen Genandoy

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog opens the weekend market at The Atria Park District in Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Expect weekend markets to be a regular part of the burgeoning Ilonggo urban scene. Such market to make a splash in the local scene  is the Weekend Tienda sa Iloilo spearheaded by the National Economic and Development Authority and supported by West Visayas State University and other government agencies, NGOs and people's organizations such as Iloilo Business Club, Inc., Iloilo Small and Medium Enterprise Development, and Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council. The second leg of the weekend market was held at The Atria Park District in Mandurriao, Iloilo City last March 10-12, 2017 and it gave shoppers the opportunity to sample a wide assortment of homegrown handicrafts, processed, natural and organic food products from local farmers in Western Visayas. The market fair seeks to garner support for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and local farmers as a platform to bring unique Western Visayas products closer to the mainstream market. 

Fresh, farm to table products sourced from various municipalities in Western Visayas

Woven specialty products from Leon, Iloilo

The Weekend Tienda sa Iloilo is a government partnership that brings the products of local farmers closer to the mainstream market

To set  West Visayas State University's extension plans in action, the University Extension and Development Center conducted a 2017 Work and Financial Planning Workshop and 2018 Target Setting activity last February 23-24, 2017 at the Research and Extension Building, West Visayas State University. The activity was attended by extension coordinators, project leaders and extension staff from the university's nine colleges and five satellite campuses.

Before the workshop, UEDC Extension Director  Dr. Noeni Nepomuceno  and UPDO Director Dr. Wilhelm P. Cerbo gave an overview of the mechanics and expected outputs of the workshop. Meanwhile, the workshop sessions were facilitated by M&E In-charge Ritchelda P. Auro. Workshop outputs for both work and financial planning and target setting  were presented for critiquing and finalization. Starting 2017, assigned mentors from UEDC will individually assist the colleges and campuses in meeting their major final output targets.