AGRICULTURE students from the Mariano Marcos State University were victorious in the seventh international summer course program hosted by the Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Indonesia held last month.

The team of Audrien Marie Tunpalan, John Christopher Tumamao, Vivi-Ann Sadian, Ralph Christian Rarangol, James Daniel Fiesta, and Marc Aaron Monte won second best group presenter in the agri+culture category.

MMSU said they presented five agricultural practices that are unique to the Philippines and in Ilocos region: panagdapil, pakbet, ulnas, arado and banting.

Keiven Cadavona, faculty member of the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development and adviser of the Animal Science Students’ Association, served as the coach of the group.

Meanwhile, Team Fiesta, a part of the CAFSD delegation along with participants from other universities, placed first in a team-building activity called “Lost in the Sea.”

Monte was also voted as the friendliest delegate, MMSU said.

The winners received trophies and certificates during cultural night held on July 21.

The MMSU team was among the five groups that represented the Philippines. Other groups came from Afghanistan, China, South Korea, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Thailand, Sudan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

The 14-day program tackled the challenges and opportunities for livestock and agricultural production in responding to the issue of global food crisis.

Its course themes are rural development, agro-tourism integration, sustainable food systems, animal welfare, agriculture and livestock production, agriculture economics, and Indonesian culture.