HALAL COMPETENCE OF FARMERS IN MAGUINDANAO IMPROVED THROUGH TRAINING FROM MAFAR
Forty farmer-members of 16 cooperatives in Maguindanao Province completed the two-day Training on Philippine National Standard on Halal, Halal Certification and Agri-Fishery Good Practices conducted by the MAFAR at the Peñafrancia Safe Haven, Cotabato City from November 17-18, 2020.
Engr. Saidona A. Lawan, Regional Halal Focal Person said that the purpose of the training was to help the farmer-participants understand the real meaning of halal, and become knowledgeable on its principles especially that they belong in the BARMM communities.
The 16 farmers’ organizations were Libutan Pusaka Agri-business Marketing Cooperative, Bangsamoro Salwang Farmer Fisherfolks Association, Ka-Ihlas Layog Bridge Farmers Producers Cooperative, Kamundala Farmers and Fishery Marketing Cooperative, Makasasa Farmer Fisherfolks Association, Midpulo Unified Agriculture Cooperative, Tad’man Resettlement Marketing Cooperative, Sittio Narra Fisherfolks and Farmers Association, Moro IPs Agriculture Cooperative, Bulalaw Farmer and Fisherfolk Association, Al-Ittihad Farmer and Fisherfolks Marketing Cooperative, Al-Falah Farmer Marketing Cooperative, Al-Phalah Farmer Producer Cooperative, Al-wihda Agri-Business Marketing Cooperative, Balut Farmers’ Cooperative and Sitio Maputi MILF Agriculture Cooperative from across municipalities of Maguindanao.
Assistant to the Minister for Operations Engr. Ismail A. Guiamel recognized the effort of the farmers for participating and spending time to learn and acquire new and significant knowledge. He also reminded each participant to value every assistance they received from the ministry because opportunity may come once only.
The two-day training was highlighted by different lecture presentations from the expert resource speakers among whom were Ustadz Alfarouk Solaiman Ahmad who tackled the topics on The Basic Concept and Principles of Halal, Engr. Lawan on DA Halal Food Industry Development Program (DA HFIDP) and Dr. Norodin Kuit on Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, Halal Certification Protocol and the Philippine National Standard.
After the series of presentations, the farmer-participants in their testimonies said they learned a lot from the training. Accordingly, their knowledge before in halal was only focused on proper slaughtering, but with the training, they were enlightened on halal programs and activities which are anchored on the ultimate meaning of halal that starts from the preparation of feeds of animals up to the processing, preparation, and consumption of the meat.
Halal also encompasses the use of clean and proper place in slaughtering and it should be in observance of proper sanitation.
Minister Dr. Mohammad S. Yacob expressed his support to all the farmer-participants. The minister said he is happy seeing the farmers participate in the training that will surely help them to be more competitive.
Minister Yacob encouraged the farmer-participants to help intensify their partnership for more effective delivery and implementation of services and interventions.
“You are our partners in implementing the services of the government and I encourage all of you to become self-reliant cooperatives that will serve as our partners in strengthening our services for our dear Bangsamoro”, he added.