Butuan City - A total of 30 participants attended the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Postharvest Management and Handling of Vegetables and Perishables from May 11–15, 2026, at the Balangay Hall, ATI RTC XIII, Los Angeles, Butuan City.

Participants included four Agricultural Extension Workers, one Department of Agrarian Reform staff member, and 25 farmers from across Caraga Region.

The said training aimed to equip participants with knowledge and skills on proper postharvest technologies and practices that can be shared with vegetable farmers in their respective municipalities.

It covered key topics such as post-harvest handling operations, maturity indices and harvesting techniques, packaging, transportation, storage, quality evaluation, and loss assessment of horticultural produce. Participants also learned methods to control senescence and maintain the quality and shelf life of vegetables and other perishables.

Lectures and hands-on demonstrations were facilitated by Ms Febie T. Paglinawan, a postharvest expert from CSU Caraga. Participants observed various post-harvest treatments for selected perishables, including vegetables and cut flowers, to understand the importance of proper handling practices.

As part of the activity, participants visited the Agriboost Hub in Butuan City at the Taboan Public Market and observed the actual operations of the post-harvest facility, where they learned practical approaches for handling perishable commodities.