SORSOGON, December 1, 2021 – A total of 151 Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program beneficiaries from Sorsogon were trained under the Rice Production and Enterprise Development to increase productivity and open up enterprise opportunities.

Eleven (11) farmers’ associations (FAs) namely: San Rafael-San Roque Farmers’ Association (15 members), Talaongan-Aligigan Farmers’ Association (15 members), Tinanogan IP Farmers’ Association (6 members), Vinisitahan IP Farmers’ Association (8 members), Dapdap Farmers’ Association (10 members), Bantayan Farmers’ Association (7 members), EMTUCABI (Embarcadero, Tughan, Catanagan, Binanuahan) Farmers’ Association (30 members), Siuton Farmers’ Association (10 members), Incarizan Farmers’ Association (5 members), Pili Farmers’ Association (5 members), and Caditaan Farmers’ Association (10 members) coming from the municipalities of Sta. Magdalena, Donsol, Pilar, Juban, and Magallanes participated, as well as 30 individual beneficiaries from Matnog (Barangays Manjumlad, Lajong, Sineberan, and Culasi) received the training conducted from October to November 2021.

Participants were introduced to different farming concepts and rice production and cultural management taught by Senior Science Research Specialist Anacleto Esplana of DA-Bicol.

Also, Regional Technical Staff Khalem Joshua Fortuna introduced integrated pest management for rice in Sta Magdalena, Matnog, and Magallanes while SAAD Technical Staff Sherwin Dotillos and Agriculturist II Norman Concepcion of DA Region 5 discussed rice pests and disease management in Pilar and Donsol.

Researcher Honey Leah Cantoria and Research Assistant Jenny Delmiguez provided knowledge on basic food hygiene and food processing while Rice Program Technical Staff Kim Jonah Bolivar led the presentation on enterprise development and product demonstration.

The product output of the participants includes puto pao, rice kropek, rice macaroons, sabalanko, rice polvoron, and rice yema.

During the activity in Sta. Magdalena, San Eugenio Farmers’ Association member Joseph Frades shared his gratitude to the SAAD Program.

“Bilang nag-iisang lalaki na nag attend sa training, ako po ay  nagagalak sapagkat tinanggap nila ako na lumahok kahit lahat ay kababaihan ang nasa training. Madami akong natutunan sa pagluto ng mga kakanin. Maraming salamat talaga sa SAAD. Masaya sa kalooban dahil nagkaron kami ng bagong kaalaman para makapag simula ng aming negosyo para sa ikauunlad ng aming asosasyon,” he said.

(Being the only man who attended the training, I am glad because they accepted me to join even when the activity was participated in by women. I learned a lot about making rice products. Thank you very much, SAAD. It is very heartfelt to acquire new knowledge to start our enterprise for the association’s growth.)

The processed rice products will be the offering of their soon-to-be established community enterprise to support the associations and their members’ growth and sustainability.

The training also aimed to strengthen the farmers’ knowledge in rice farming to increase productivity.

The participants also received a package of training kits, boots, buri hat, apron, and hairnet to complete the training.

The Rice Production and Enterprise Development Training amounting to  Php 811,909 is one of the SAAD projects in Sorsogon for FY 2021.

Municipal Mayor Carolyn Sy-Reyes of the local government unit (LGU) Pilar showed full support by attending the training activity. ###

Writer: Pauline Trixia D. Borja, SAAD Sorsogon Information Officer

Sources: SAAD Program Sorsogon

Photos: SAAD Program Sorsogon