In line with the agency’s advocacy on ‘farming as a business’ thru teaching value adding and processing for rural women in the region, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X continuously staged trainings on processing and utilization of various agricultural crop for the women’s sector.

ATI-RTC X conducted the Training on Cassava Processing and Utilization on August 26-28, 2020 at Buhian Diversified Farm, Apas, Initao, Misamis Oriental. The three-day activity was attended by twenty (20) rural women who are members of the Rural Improvement Club (RICs) of Initao, Misamis Oriental.

The activity specifically aims to train the participants on value adding through product development and diversification, marketing, and the principles of farming as a business.
Highlighted on the lecture were principles, concepts and standards of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), food safety, and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP).

The participants also enjoyed a hands-on activity on processing sumptuous cassava-based recipes such cassava chips, cassava roll, cassava sticks, cassava chicharon, and cassava cookies. Also, participants have performed hands-on activities on packaging and labeling, and on product costing and pricing.

Invited experts who have shared their experience in agripreneurship were from Greenminds Inc., and the Department of Trade and Industry region 10.

The participants were very appreciative that the training provided them the means to strategize how to diversify and augment their income. It is an added learning opportunity that could enhance living and enforce resiliency amidst the crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The activity was conducted in partnership with Greenminds Inc.,(from the reports of Noriel Kris Santillan).