The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 10 has recently turned over a vacuum packaging technology to farmer-members of Balugto Hope Agroforestry Association Inc. in Talakag town, Bukidnon.
The vacuum sealer will help minimize food waste and stabilize prices in times of oversupply of vegetables and ensure farmers with a reliable source of income.
Prior to the turnover of the equipment, 15 farmer members were trained on the basic operation and maintenance of the machinery. The DOST will also train them on Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety.
The equipment includes vegetable cutters, vacuum packaging machines, digital weighing scales, washers, and stainless steel tables. The 250 farmer-members across the municipality are expected to benefit from this intervention.
These sets of machines will enable the farmers to produce value-added products with longer shelf life.
A joint counterpart of the Talakag Local Government Unit and the beneficiary, the processing plant is currently being furnished to be compliant with the standards of the Food and Drug Administration, for the ease of their future License to Operate application.
Other organizations, the MILFACO (Miarayon–Lapok–Lirongan–Tinaytayan Tribal Association) Farmers Agriculture Cooperative and the Kinaiyahan Angay Natong Ampingan Para Sa Maayong Kaugmaon (Kanak), Inc. have also received their own coffee processing equipment to enhance the quality of their Arabica coffee production.
This intervention aims to improve the coffee processing methods of the organizations that will lead to better quality and increased profitability of the coffee product.
The MILFACO and the KANAK, Inc. have 532 and 39 coffee farmers, respectively.
The coffee beans grown in the Pangantucan-Talakag area, situated around the foothills of Mt. Kalatungan, are renowned for their unique flavor, resulting in national recognition from the 2022 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC).
DOST and LGU Talakag have also scheduled them for more product development programs to improve local coffee production continuously.
“The LGU Expresses our full support to these initiatives as these projects not only strengthen the coffee and vegetable industry but also benefit the farmers and their families, further strengthening the local economy,” Talakag Mayor Vergito O. Factura said.
“We are optimistic about the prospects of the organizations and foresee them becoming successful agripreneurs in the future,” DOST Bukidnon Provincial Director Ritchie Mae L. Guno said.
Guno also emphasized that the ownership of these interventions by the beneficiaries is crucial to achieving the agency’s vision of sustainable economic growth.
“We want to see them become agripreneurs, that their profit increase and their quality of life improve”, Guno added. — With report from Jenifer O. Pancho/PSTO Bukidnon
