In partnership with the Malaybalay City Agriculture Office and the Fiber Industry Development Authority, 30 youth from Upper Pulangi, Bukidnon undertook production management training on abaca, coffee, rubber and inland fishing last 10 to 20 October 2011.

The training is part of ESSC's activities in Generating Advancement for Upland People (GAUP) project supported by Misean Cara through the Irish Jesuit Mission to generate systems of productivity while strengthening the stability of the local environment in the ancestral domain of the Pulangiyen.

The training focused mainly on abaca, coffee, and rubber, crops that are both already found in the communities and have clear markets down the valley. ESSC designed the training to start with a visit around the community so that the resource persons can obtain a local context. This also allowed the technicians to understand the community's cultural management practices and cite these as examples during the discussion.

Abaca (Musa textilis) is a familiar crop produced by the Pulangiyen, a tribal community in Malaybalay, Bukidnon in northern Mindanao. Abaca fiber is used in weaving traditional clothing and bags for many upland indigenous communities. Historically, Upper Pulangi traded abaca fibers as far as the coast of northern Mindanao and more recently in Malaybalay City, although production remains minimal. Abaca fiber continues to have a market demand both in the country and abroad.

The abaca training focused on three key elements: 1) market, 2) proper harvesting, and 3) simple farm management. Participants were reminded that although abaca may not be as popular as rubber, it continues to have a good market value and were thus encouraged to pursue its planting and fiber production. Crop care and disease prevention tips in relation to viruses that afflict local abaca varieties.

Coffee is a more recent introduction in Upper Pulangi brought by migrant logging workers who opted to stay in the valley after the logging companies ceased to operate. Unlike abaca, coffee seemed to be less interesting for the training participants, partly due to the lesser number of Pulangiyen growing coffee in Upper Pulangi. It was emphasized that while coffee production takes longer and management practices are complex, market demand for coffee is huge and will continue to be significant not just in the Philippines, thus making coffee production a profitable livelihood venture. Coffee plant stocks are still available in Upper Pulangi and topics to rejuvenate the crop were discussed.

Another recent crop introduced in the area is rubber. In the Philippines and neighboring tropical Asian countries, there is great interest in raw rubber raw from many companies and is a major growth industry. In recent years, settlers in Upper Pulangi started to establish rubber plantations but much remains to be understood regarding in growing this crop and its impact on the environment.

Rubber is popular in the areas of the participants due to the high price the crop commands in the market. Many participants learned of the economic growth of their neighbors who planted rubber and entices many to do the same. During the training, participants learned how to begin establishing their mini rubber plantations. Site selection, land preparation, planting, induction, and tapping were some of the topics. It was also stressed that while rubber has great potential as a stable source of livelihood, its impact on reducing biodiversity in the area must also be understood. So while they seek to plant more rubber trees in their farms, there is a need to balance economic needs with environmental stewardship by continuing their assisted natural regeneration activities and planting of endemic trees in their lands.

Inland fishing, commonly understood by many of the participants as "fishpond making" renewed interest in tilapia production. Tilapia is a popular freshwater fish and aquaculture product in fishponds. The discussion focused on establishing the pond, feeding requirements, and harvesting. How the tilapia fish reproduce gave participants new information as aquatic resources are less familiar.

Soil sampling and analysis was also included to understand better the importance of knowing what is in the soil before applying any fertilizer, organic or inorganic.

With this training, selected participants are prepared to join the implementation of the GAUP activities and will apply what they have learned in their individual farms. But more importantly, it is contributing as well to the social and cultural strengthening within the Pulangiyen and their youth as they productively pursue their care for their gaup or ancestral domain.