The Department of AgricultureโAgricultural Training InstituteโRegional Training Center I (DA-ATI-RTC I) conducted the first batch of the Trash to Cash: Training on Animal Waste Management and Utilization on June 16โ20, 2025, at Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte.
The training was participated in by 34 agricultural extension workers and livestock coordinators from various municipalities in Region I. It aimed to equip participants with knowledge and skills in the proper handling, conversion, and utilization of animal waste to help reduce environmental impact while adding value at the farm level.
The five-day activity featured a combination of lecture sessions, hands-on practicum, and field exposure to ensure a balance of theoretical understanding and practical application. A major highlight of the training was the actual construction of the Scalable Polyethylene Drum Digester (SPEDD), a cost-effective and replicable technology designed for smallholder farms to convert animal waste into biogas and organic fertilizer.
To further enrich the participantsโ learning experience, a site visit was conducted at a biodigester facility located in the Swine Multiplier Farm in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, where participants observed and visualized how the system operates in a real farm setting.
The training concluded with the participants expressing their commitment to apply and promote the practices learned in their respective municipalities. They also recognized the potential of animal waste management in mitigating climate change and turning waste into useful resources, whether as energy, fertilizer, or additional livelihood.
