VICTORIA, ORIENTAL MINDORO – A total of 37 Learning Site for Agriculture Cooperators and Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) from the different municipalities in Oriental Mindoro were successfully capacitated on “Gender and Development (GAD) with Training on Stevia Production” on March 22-24, 2022 held at Victoria Nature Park, Brgy. Bambanin, Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.

On the first day of the training, Ms. Bernadeth C. Gonzales, Resource Speaker, discussed the topics of GAD and its related law like Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women. At the end of the discussion, the participants learned to respect everyone’s perspective regardless of their nature and gender.

The remaining two days of the training were focused on stevia production, propagation, processing, and marketing. The lectures were facilitated by Ms. Maria Minerva J. Cortez along with the two facilitators, Mr. Joseph Raymund J. Cortez and Mr. Francis A. Delos Angeles.

During the hands-on activities, the participants acquired skills on how to operate the spray dryer and dehydrator for converting the stevia mixtures into powder. Also, they learned to use a refractometer for measuring the sweetness or brix of the stevia mixture.

Moreover, the participants learned the techniques and management of stevia propagation against its high mortality rate. In addition, a workshop on cost and return analysis of stevia production was also conducted to prove that growing stevia is highly profitable compared to other commodities.

“I am very thankful for this training, especially on the Gender and Development aspect. As an extension worker may mga makakasalimuha tayo na mga marginalized person, and with GAD discussions may mga strategies tayo na pwedeng itulong sa kanila. And, I’m very thankful because of the new technology of stevia production, propagation, processing, and marketing”, Sharmaine B. Cruzado, Agricultural Technologist of Provincial Agriculture Office-Oriental Mindoro shared.