LEGAZPI CITY, July 28 — With the theme “Kabutehan para sa Maunlad at Malusog na Pamayanan”, 52 Bicolano mushroom farmers attended a two-day summit that lasted till today, Friday, the first ever Mushroom Summit held at the Tagaytay International Convention Center, Tagaytay City.
More than 300 mushroom farmers, researchers and Agricultural Extension workers from different regions attended the event.
DA-Bicol Executive Director Dr. Elena B. de los Santos, in an interview Friday, said the DA Bicol has been conducting massive trainings on community-based mushroom production in different barangays and undertakes techno fora and other special events.
Delos said, “What comes to mind when we hear about mushroom? –normally, we think about those stuff that just pop out from organic materials usually from wood sources or from different kinds of substrate. Mushroom contains excellent health benefits and growing them properly has great potential and demand in the global market”.
During the first day of the summit, Merci mushroom soap produced by Merci Villareal of Balatan, Camarines Sur was awarded as best seller and a techno demo on Mushroom Vanilla Ice cream by Arlene De Asis of DA Bicol was well attended and appreciated.
Guests present during the summit were: DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Lavinia; OIC–Director, Bureau of Plant Industry, Dr. Vivencio Mamaril; Dr. Sofronio Kalaw of Central Luzon State University; Ma. Victoria Magkalas of the Department of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders.
Guest speakers shared some insights on the current status of the mushroom industry in the Philippines, approved Philippine standards for mushroom and attributes of Philippine native and exotic species of mushroom.
“Buhay na buhay ngayon ang industriya ng kabute (The Mushroom Industry is now vibrant),” said Dr. Vivencio Mamaril in his keynote speech.
The agency will be issuing the “Juan Magsasaka” Identification Card for all farmers upon validation. The said ID system will help the rice, corn, crop/vegetable and mushroom growers particularly in their request for program and services assistance, Mamaril added.
He said that the summit is very timely as it will help agriculture authorities to start collecting data on how many Filipinos grow mushroom, what kind of species and how many kilos are produced in a year.
Meanwhile, Lavinia said in her message that it is important for farmers to organize themselves and be accredited so that they can avail of their needed assistance.
In 2018 when the proposal is approved by Congress, the Department of Agriculture will no longer be DA but Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Lavinia added.
A video showing on Mushroom Technology which was featured in a local television here was presented by DA Bicol.
The presentation served as an inspiration and example to mushroom enthusiasts and was most applauded by the participants. (Connie Destura/PNA)
