PAGBILAO, Quezon – Banana growers in Quezon province’s 4th class town of Pitogo can now scale up their farm products and earn extra income after undertaking the two-day “Skills Training on Banana Chips Processing and Product Development”, which was conducted by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA)-Food Processing and Livelihood Unit.
Lilibeth Ramilo, from the OPA-Food Processing and Livelihood Unit, on Friday said that members of the Pitogo Banana Growers Association underwent training at the OPA training center in Barangay Talipan here ,where she presented to the group the “Good Manufacturing Practices” early this week.
Ramilo said the provincial agriculture office, through the Governor’s “Serbisyong Suarez sa Agrikultura” program, teaches farmers and agricultural workers “the value-added for their agricultural produce besides merely growing or raising them in their farms”.
“Banana growers could learn aspects in food processing, packaging and labeling including product development so they could be more attractive to food consumers thus augment their income,” she said.
OPA is also assisting the banana growers in promoting and providing a market for their products, such as the holding of product displays and showcase during Quezon’s “Niyogyugan Festival” slated in August.
Meanwhile, Provincial Banana Focal Person Leonelyn D. Castones assured that their office is always ready to assist and support the farmers’ association in availing of the skills training program and sustain their livelihood undertakings.
“Ang kailangan lang masabayan din ng sigasig ng samahan yung sigasig na ipinapakita ng tanggapan hanggang sa kaya na nila i-handle yung mga programa o proyekto na ipinagkakaloob sa kanila ng pamahalaang panlalawigan (What is needed is for the association’s interest to avail of and up to the time that they are ready to handle the provincial government’s dynamic program and projects intended for them),” Castones said.
Alex Tarray, president of the Pitogo Banana Growers Association, thanked the provincial agriculture office for the skills training and for sustaining the food processing program for the farmers.
“Malaking tulong sa aming samahan ang nasabing pagsasanay dahil hindi lamang sa pagbebenta ng hilaw na saging kami nakatuon bagkus kami na rin ang gagawa at magpoproseso ng aming sariling produkto (The skills training is a big help to our association because now we can process and manufacture our own banana food products other than the customary focus of selling the raw bananas),” Tarray said. (Gideon Belen/PNA)
