OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, October 3, 2020 – A two-day training on mushroom production held from October 2 to 3, 2020 in Brgy. Calawag, Magsaysay was conducted for the beneficiaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

Sixteen (16) identified members of the Calawag Mushroom Association (CMA), led by its chairperson Mr. Alfredo Magluyan attended the said training in the Brgy. Calawag community covered court.

Facilitating the training was Mr. Emerald G. Largado, a mushroom laboratory technician in Murtha Demo Seed Farm in Murtha, San Jose, and technical staff Mr. Rudynick T. Sanchez, Mr. Joseph H. Garay, and Mr. Frederick E. Villanada. Agricultural technicians of the Municipal Agriculture Office in Magsaysay Mrs. Emily Tañedo, Mr. Richard Ochavez, and Mr. Bryan Rosete assisted the trainers during the two-day activity.

The training features appropriate means of producing and growing mushrooms (oyster) using natural practices. A hands-on session illustrating the step-by-step procedure in mushroom production was shown to the beneficiaries after the lecture. The demonstration of the actual process of mushroom production continued the next day.

The local government unit (LGU) of Magsaysay is aiming to uplift the status of living of rice farmers in barangay Calawag by expanding food production capacities from rice to other crops, such as mushrooms. Magsaysay LGU believes that it would be very suitable in the area and would be a great help as an alternative source of income for the beneficiaries’ basic needs.

Aside from mushroom cultivation, the beneficiaries also learned value-adding activities, such as making processed mushroom products like tempura, atsara, and tocino.

The CMA, established in 2019, is a recipient of continued support interventions, such as raw materials to produce mushrooms or kabute and mushroom fruiting house, under SAAD FY 2019.

The beneficiaries extended their gratitude to the DA-SAAD Program for organizing instructional activities that equip them with relevant knowledge in establishing a business and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

CMA association chairperson Mr. Magluyan shared, “Ito’y kanilang panimulang hakbang upang magkaroon sila ng isang ganap na negosyo at patuloy na kumita sa ganitong uri ng proyektong pangkabuhayan na handog sa kanila ng SAAD Program.” ###

Writer:

Marshall Louie Asis, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer

Reference and photos: Vilmar Robes (SAAD Area Coordinator)