Farmers in Valencia town, Oriental Negros, may now have access to the latest studies and results of researches on the latest farm products and technologies, through the farmer information center created recently by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development.

The Farmers Information Technology Services Center, located at the municipal agriculture office, will provide farmers reading materials on the latest in farm technologies and other researches made available through the internet, Valencia agriculture officer Rescil Vincoy said.

Valencia is the second municipality to become a Techno Pinoy Center in the province, after the Central Visayas Consortium for Integrated Regional Research Development.

Dr. Peter Dayot worked to put up the farmer information centers, or techno-pinoy centers in every town and city in the province. They are now located in the town of Pamplona, Bayawan City and the Provincial Agriculture's Office.

With the techno center, Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez Jr. said he is hopeful that farmers in his town can improve their skills.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had said that her administration sees to it that nobody is left behind in the social payback of economic growth, and fighting hunger shall be a constant priority in strategic and immediate levels.

Gonzalez said he has ordered the agriculture department to work on expanding strawberry production as demand for the small sweet red fruit continues to increase.

More barangays have been identified as expansion areas for strawberry farming.

Vincoy said strawberry is suitable and can be grown in Barangays Apolong, Sagbang, Lunga, and Malaunay.

Valencia has been producing strawberry since last year on a 10,000 square meter lot located in Caidiocan, Mampas, and Lunga.*RG

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