BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – Agricultural Training Institute - Regional Training Center 8 invited individuals and beneficiaries of the Banana (Cardava) Enterprise Project of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 8 (DA-RFO8) Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) in the Center to equip them with the knowledge and skills to process banana, utilize its by-products, and capacitate them to establish sustainable small-scale livelihoods.
Through hands-on activities, participants learned to create a variety of value-added products, including flavored banana chips, banana peel patties, fiber-enriched longganisa, and banana ketchup. They were amazed at the versatility of a banana, discovering how to transform even overripe fruits and peels into delicious and nutritious products.
Ms. Leah Meribeles, one of the participants, shared: "I am grateful for the invitation and for the training provided by the ATI-RTC 8. While I am familiar with meat processing, I found the zero-waste banana processing particularly intriguing. It offers a promising alternative to meat, especially considering the rising costs. I gained valuable insights, particularly on the production of catsup, a favorite of my grandson."
To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the new knowledge and skills, participants adopted the BANANA acronym: (Buhaton, Alternatibong produkto, Nutrisyon, Agar or compost, Network, Aksyon). By following this framework, they are committed to applying their learnings and contributing to a more sustainable banana industry in Carigara.
A total of 21 Rural Improvement Club (RIC) members from Carigar, Leyte and one Agricultural Extension Worker (AEW) completed the three-day Zero Waste Banana Processing training on October 23-25, 2024 at Hall C, ATI RTC 8, VSU, Baybay City, Leyte.
