Baroy, LANAO DEL NORTE---When farm commodities such as fruits and vegetables are in season, they are easily available and affordable. When there is a surfeit in harvest, our local farmers engage in value-adding to have additional income source.
The latest training conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) through its Career Development and Management Services (CDMS) organized the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Banana Production and Utilization in support to the Gender and Development (GAD). A total of 21 participants from the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO) and selected farmer leaders and Rural Improvement Club (RIC) members actively participated the said three-day training.
The training aims that the participants understand and apply the production technology of banana following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) principles and standards that will gear towards food safety and product quality for the production and post-handling.
During the opening program, GAD Focal Person Teodosia Jaraba shared that the training is a packaged training from production to processing aligned with the basics of gender and development since this training is in support of Gender and Development Program.
Lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activity were delivered and administered to the participants for them to be able to fully appreciate and understand the gist of the topics. One of the resource speakers was Dr. Reggie M. Macahilo, owner of MR. DEGA FARM and the only PhilGAP Certified in terms of Banana (cardava) production and processing. She shared with the participants her farm practices and experiences in getting a GAP certification.
Food technologist Phoebe L. Galeon discussed about the banana processing, packaging, labeling, and costing. Ms. Galeon is the current President of the Northern Mindanao Food Safety Team and a Food Technologist from University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines – Cagayan de Oro City. The participants were divided into five groups and each group was given the responsibility of preparing several banana recipes, including banana catsup, hash browns, banana-mango puree, banana-pineapple jam, cookies, and cream pie.
Participants presented their workshop outputs ranging from packaging, costing and their action plan, and was later critiqued by the resource persons and training management. The Training of Trainers on Banana Production and Utilization in Support to GAD transpired from May 15-19, 2023 in Guians, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. (submitted by: Moisa Niña C. Paglinawan, Training Specialist-II)
