For the members of the Tabon Integrated Farmers Association (TIFA) in Jose Dalman, Zamboanga del Norte, agricultural products need not be sold only in their raw form. Learning how to process cattle meat gave them a chance to explore another way of turning agricultural products into goods that could potentially add value to their livelihoods.
That possibility was explored during a two-day Value Addition Training on Meat Processing conducted by the Department of Agriculture–Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 on September 3 and 4, 2026, where TIFA members learned basic meat processing techniques and gained an introduction to developing livestock products into other marketable goods.
The training provided participants with practical lessons on meat processing, allowing them to learn how agricultural products can be prepared, processed and developed beyond their raw form.
For 44-year-old TIFA member Marilyn Ballano, who has been part of the association since 2023, the training offered another skill that she could potentially use to supplement her family’s livelihood.
Ballano said the training gave her and other members an opportunity to learn something that could open another source of income for their families.
“I am thankful because SAAD gave us another opportunity to learn and find additional income,” Ballano said.
Beyond the technical lessons, the activity brought TIFA members together to learn a common set of skills that they could potentially apply through their association. For a farmer organization, shared knowledge can provide a foundation for exploring group-based livelihood activities and other enterprise opportunities.
The training also introduced the farmers to the possibility of moving beyond the sale of raw agricultural commodities. Through processing, products can be prepared in forms that may offer different options for marketing and consumption.
For TIFA, however, the next step lies in how its members apply what they learned. The two-day activity provided the knowledge; turning that knowledge into a livelihood activity will depend on the group’s ability to practice the techniques, identify viable products and determine how they can fit into the association’s existing agricultural activities.
For Ballano and her fellow farmers, the training therefore represents more than two days spent learning meat processing. It gives them another skill to bring back to their homes and association — and another possibility to explore as they look for ways to make more from the agricultural work they already do. ###
