BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – In support of the full implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) and the continuing effort to expand the pool of farmer organizations engaged in coconut value-adding enterprises, the Agricultural Training Institute–Regional Training Center VIII (ATI-RTC 8) successfully conducted the Training of Trainers on Coconut Value-Adding (Food Processing) from May 25–29, 2026, at ATI-RTC 8 in Baybay City, Leyte.
The training was conducted based on the list of farmer organizations endorsed by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and aimed to develop competent trainers capable of facilitating the transfer of coconut value-adding technologies and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to coconut farming communities across Eastern Visayas.
Through this initiative, ATI seeks to promote the production of healthy, safe, environmentally sustainable, and marketable coconut-based products while enhancing the entrepreneurial capabilities of coconut farmers and their organizations.
A total of 34 participants completed the five-day training. The participants were composed of Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) paired with Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) cooperators and farmer leaders from coconut-producing municipalities in the region.
The training featured intensive lectures and hands-on activities on the processing of various coconut-based food products and by-products, including coco toyo, coco sugar, coco patty, nata de coco, virgin coconut oil (VCO), and coco vinegar. Participants also learned the step-by-step procedures in coconut food processing, cost and return analysis, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and proper packaging and labeling of coconut products.
For many participants, the training opened new opportunities for livelihood development and community empowerment.
“I am very thankful that I was selected and invited to attend this Coconut Value-Adding (Food Processing) Training together with our Agricultural Extension Worker, Mr. Dave Gozo of San Miguel, Leyte,” shared Alma Garciso, a farmer from the Sitio Malaihao Integrated Farmers Association in Barangay Malaihao, San Miguel, Leyte.
“This training helped me realize the many value-added potentials of coconut and taught me how these products can be made. The knowledge and insights I gained will be shared not only with our organization but also with the wider community. I am grateful to ATI for providing us this opportunity to learn skills that can help increase productivity and create additional sources of income for coconut farmers,” she added.
The training also carried Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation, with 11.50 CPD points awarded to licensed agriculturists who completed the program.
As a key component of the capability-building strategy under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), the graduates of the Training of Trainers are expected to take an active role in cascading the technologies and knowledge they acquired. They will serve as resource persons and facilitators in the conduct of 10 batches of farmer-level Training on Coconut Value-Adding this year, ensuring that more coconut farmers and farmer organizations across Eastern Visayas gain access to value-adding technologies and enterprise development opportunities.
Through this multiplier approach, ATI-RTC 8 aims to broaden the reach of coconut value-adding interventions, strengthen local extension services, and empower coconut farming communities to transform raw coconut products into higher-value commodities. This initiative ultimately contributes to increased farm productivity, improved household incomes, and the sustainable development of the coconut industry in the region.
