Lanao del Sur – Thirty coconut farmers and stakeholders from the province gathered for the 3-day Training on the Production of Coconut Products and By-products (Batch 5), a hands-on capacity-building initiative spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center XII (ATI-RTC XII). Held from May 28-30, 2025, the training aimed to help participants harness the full potential of coconut farming through value-adding practices and sustainable production techniques.
The training opened with Mr. Joseph P. Simpao welcoming the participants and setting the stage for the learning journey ahead. In his message, he emphasized the significance of value-added coconut processing in boosting local enterprise development and income generation. He also introduced the training modules, which included both theoretical and practical components to ensure well-rounded learning.
Key resource speaker Mr. Omair M. Radia, Agriculturist II from the Philippine Coconut Authority – Lanao del Sur, led sessions covering a wide range of coconut products and by-products. His lectures focused on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), ensuring food and non-food coconut products meet safety and quality standards. Participants were particularly engaged in learning how to turn coconut meat, milk, water, husk, and shell into commercially viable items—with a special focus on the preparation and health benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO).
The hands-on sessions allowed participants to directly apply their knowledge, particularly in the full-cycle production of VCO—from grating coconut meat and extracting milk to fermenting and harvesting the oil. Participants conducted quality checks, discussed GMP-aligned storage methods, and collaborated in small group discussions to troubleshoot common processing issues.
On the final day, the freshly harvested VCO served as a tangible result of their collective effort and learning. As they bottled their product, participants expressed both pride and excitement in bringing these new skills back to their communities.
Engr. Mokles P. Buisan, Training Specialist II of ATI-RTC XII, closed the program by acknowledging the participants’ enthusiasm and encouraging them to become advocates of value-added coconut production. He urged them to share their newfound knowledge and help revitalize the local coconut industry with sustainable, income-generating practices.
The training concluded not only with bottled Virgin Coconut Oil, but with empowered farmers eager to uplift their communities and transform coconut farming into a more innovative, profitable, and resilient enterprise in Lanao del Sur.
