“I have gained proficiency in processing tomato jam and ketchup, kimchi, pickles, squash cookies, squash noodles, malunggay noodles, and taro chips. Advantageously, all the necessary materials for processing are readily available in our locality, or we can cultivate them in our backyard gardens. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in this training. It has been an enlightening experience, and I assure you that we will replicate this training for our fellow farmers on our farm. Thank you, ATI-CAR, for this invaluable opportunity. Hope to have more training like this,” expressed Ms. Virginia B. Sacki, Shavcers Farming School Farm owner/farmer and at the same time one of the participants in the 3-day Training on Urban Agriculture Batch 1: Focusing on Product Development for Small Enterprises with an emphasis on Value Added Processing of Vegetables and Vegetable By-Products, held at Shavcer’s Farming School in Tabuk City, Kalinga from March 19-21, 2024.
The training is facilitated by the Partnership and Accreditation Services (PAS) of the ATI-CAR in partnership with the City of Tabuk and PLGU Kalinga. This also marked a significant step in empowering small enterprises in urban agriculture.
Participants were introduced to a diverse range of processed products, such as kimchi, squash puto, squash cookies, and squash ice cream, vegetable pickles, tomato jam, tomato ketchup, mungo hopia, vegetable noodles, taro chips . Beyond acquiring practical skills, attendees were enlightened about the potential for small-scale enterprises to flourish through value addition in agricultural produce, thus enabling them to generate additional income for their families and communities.
This collaborative initiative underscores a commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and economic empowerment at the grassroots level, ensuring that participants carry forth newfound knowledge and skills to foster positive change and prosperity in urban agriculture upon returning to their respective communities.
A total of 31 active participants from various Community Urban Agriculture Model Farms (CUAMFs) and a Learning Site for Agriculture in Tabuk City, Kalinga finished the said training course.//with reports from Ms. Perla Epie, DMO I, ATI-RTC-CAR
