PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur - The Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII, in partnership with the Provincial Agriculture and Veterinary Office of Agusan del Sur, conducted the Training on Food Processing and Food Safety in Support to GAD Batch 2 at Hygeia IntegraMeds Center FDAI on September 24-26, 2024.

The training aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of the members of the Rural Improvement Clubs, 4-H Clubs, and other stakeholders in the province in food processing and food safety awareness through technology promotion.

Provincial S&T Director Andrea Cabonite and Science Research Specialist Rhea Santos from the DOST-Agusan del Sur, discussed the topics on the introduction and importance of food safety. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), personal hygiene, techniques in food processing, and packaging and labeling were also explained.

Further, Evelyn Montino, a retired agricultural technologist from Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, was the resource person responsible for the hands-on demonstration. She led and guided the participants during the processing of pineapple-carrot jam, durian jam, and jackfruit preserve on the third day of the training.

“This training is very beneficial to us, agri-product growers, business owners, and food handlers in ensuring that the knowledge and skills we’ve learned here will not be put to waste but will be used for the betterment of our 4-H organization,” said Karen Mae F. Señerez, one of the participants from Trento, Agusan del Sur.