Bringing gap on food security closer, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center 1 (ATI-RTC 1) conducted the Training on Corn Production Technology and Value Adding on August 25-26, 2022 at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
The training capacitated 19 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and Farmer Leaders from the different municipalities in Pangasinan with additional knowledge on the importance of corn in sustaining food security and in providing livelihood activity. Specifically, they were equipped with skills on processing of various corn recipes wherein importance of food safety was given emphasis.
Ms. Dominga A. Fawayan from the Provincial Agriculture Office of Pangasinan served as the subject matter specialist on corn processing. Assisted by Ms. Betty Grace DC. Kanlas, project officer of the training, Ms. Fawayan demonstrated steps on how to make various corn recipes. Among the recipes prepared were marmalade, pastillas, corn-rice cake with cheese, corn bread with yema and cheese, and corn bread with meringue topping.
Meanwhile, Ms. Lea Astrude T. Santiago, Owner of the Our Farm Republic, instilled to the participants the right values in terms of productivity. Ms. Santiago shared the good Filipino values that are relevant in engaging with different agricultural and entrepreneurial activities.
In addition, the topics included in the training course were the impact of climate change in agriculture which was shared by the Climate Change Focal Person of ATI-RTC 1, Dr. Maricel D. Dacapias. The Status of Corn Industry in the region and the Cultural Management of Corn were discussed by the speakers from the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 1, Mr. John Leo B. Bungubung and Mr. Ruel M. Ramos, respectively.
“The instructors were able to make the learning process more interesting by encouraging a free-flowing exchange of ideas among the participants. It would be a good idea to cite instances wherein value-adding has proven to be financially beneficial to those only engaged with corn production.”, Mr. Christian Emmanuel R. Peralta, farmer cooperator from Balungao, Pangasinan, said as he expressed his learnings and insights during the closing program of the training.
Part of the government interventions towards adequate, affordable, and nutritious food for every Filipino family is the consolidation of alternative products that can be substituted for rice and corn is one of them. Through this training, it is hoped that the trained AEWs and Farmer Leaders will serve as an agent in their respective community in introducing value adding activities to corn farmers toward productive and progressive farming activity.
