Malaybalay City, Bukidnon—The Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) through its Career Development and Management Services (CDMS) conducted the 5-day long Training on Value Adding and Waste Utilization for Rice on April 15-19, 2024 at Malaybalay City, Bukidnon for 30 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) across the region.
The training enabled participants to produce rice delicacies and other value-added rice products while understanding proper costing. Additionally, the participants gained knowledge on basic product design and packaging concepts to boost the marketability of their products.
Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA) cooperators in Region 10 namely Engallado Nature Farm and Natural Food Products, Mariquit Mushroom Farm, and Mushroom City, served as inspirations for the participants as they learned from them the importance of value-adding and waste utilization of rice as a source of additional income besides the commonly known milled rice and palay.
Invited resource persons from the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office X (DA-RFO X), the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Cagayan de Oro City, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bukidnon, and the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) Bukidnon also shared their expertise on various topics specifically on the Principles and Concept of Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); importance of value-adding and utilization of rice; and Product Labelling and Packaging and Comparative Costing and Pricing to ensure consumer safety and profitability.
“I am amazed by the delicacies that could be produced out of rice (cake, rice blend, noodles, wine and etc.) and I am grateful for the information learned and demonstration conducted during the training. ATI never fails to widen the knowledge and skills of AEWs and I hope they will never get tired in conducting trainings and many more”, said Methyl Joy P. Habasa, AEW participant from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Quezon Bukidnon.
The participants also engaged in various field demonstrations on the preparation of Urea Molasses Treated Rice Straw (UMTRS), Carbonized Rice Hull (CRH), and vermicomposting; actual processing of rice wine and various rice delicacies, and its waste utilization through the propagation of straw and oyster mushrooms using rice straws and rice hulls for its substrate.
The said 5-day training was facilitated by the center’s Rice Program and Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) focal person and Development Management Officer II Jhoylie Mae R. Caumban, together with RCEF technical support staff Reymard M. Galarrita.
