ILOILO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) conducted a three-day capacity development training on processing and packaging from April 13 to 15, 2021.
More than 30 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) farmer cooperatives and associations engaged in corn and mushroom production participated in the event held at MO2 Westown Hotel in Mandurriao here.
“The agri-sector is not only concerned with food supply but also to develop healthy and presentable processed agricultural products,” said Maria Teresa Solis, DA-AMAD 6 chief.
The training seeks to enhance the existing capacity of the farmer entrepreneurs to indulge in the production and processing of high-value crops like corn and mushroom.
Eden Panisales, DA mushroom consultant, lectured about the basics of mushroom cultivation.
Rizalyn Loloy, a mushroom processor from Dumangas, Iloilo, introduced the different products she developed from mushrooms.
Nora Garpa of DA Research Division, on the other hand, presented the different food safety tips and mycotoxin content in corn. Value-adding and processing of various corn products like Corn Crunch Rice-Corn Blend and Corn Polvoron were also featured.
Paul Aenesis Sambas and Kay Kristel Cainglet from the Department of Science and Technology Region 6 talked about packaging and the basics of labeling.
Participants also learned how to protect and preserve their products./PN
