HINATUAN, Surigao del Sur – The Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII successfully conducted the Beyond Nuts: Training on Production of Coconut Products and By-Products (Batch 1) on September 3–5, 2025, at Otaw Agricultural Farm under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

The three-day activity was participated in by 29 coconut farmers from Surigao del Norte to strengthen the coconut industry by providing them with practical skills and techniques to maximize the use of coconuts as a source of innovative by-products.

Participants were introduced to proper methods of producing high-quality products and identifying market opportunities to build sustainable enterprises. They also engaged in hands-on activities on various processing methods, including oil and milk extraction, flour production, de-husking, and nut-cracking techniques.

Key discussions covered opportunities in coconut production, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), raw material cleaning and sanitation protocols, processing, packaging, and storage. Through these sessions, farmers gained a comprehensive understanding of value-adding processes.

As part of the CFIDP, the training supports the government’s 10-year roadmap for the coconut sector, which aims to uplift the lives of coconut farmers by providing access to training, credit, and enterprise opportunities. By equipping participants with processing and value-adding skills, the program helps ensure that farmers directly benefit from the growth of the coconut industry.

Participants successfully produced a range of coconut-based products, including virgin coconut oil, cocotoyo, cooking oil, coco sugar, coconut flour, coconut syrup, and coco aminos, showcasing the versatility and potential of coconuts in creating market-ready goods.

“This training will greatly help our cooperative if we can apply it to our group. I realized how valuable the coconut is—from its leaves to its roots. Before, we only saw ourselves as farmers, but now we can also become manufacturers, producers, suppliers, and entrepreneurs,” said Ms. Nelcita E. Ajoc, one of the participants from Placer, Surigao del Norte.