THREE-DAY TRAINING ON VALUE-ADDED FISHERY PRODUCTS SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED IN SGA
NORTH COTABATO | March 19, 2021
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform through the Fisheries Sector headed by Dr. Macmod D. Mamalangkap, Director II for Fisheries Services conducted a Post-Harvest Training dedicated to the women of Pikit and Midsayap, North Cotabato.
A total of thirty-five (35) women and a few men have gladly responded and participated in a three (3) day validation and on-site Training of Value-Added Fishery Products in two (2) different locations under the 63 Barangay or the Special Geographical Areas (SGR) of BARMM. The Pikit Cluster has 20 participants from Brgy. Balong, Dungguan, Macasendeg, and Manaulanen last March 17, 2021, while 15 participants in Midsayap Cluster from Brgy. Lower Kadigasan on March 18 -19, 2021.
The objective of the said training was to educate particularly the women and enhance their skills on how to preserve and utilize the resources especially during the abundance of fishery products. There was also a demonstration of actual procedures in improved fishery value-added products like processing, packaging, and labeling.
Mr. Shassky P. Andik, PC 3, HRMO, Pikit Cluster III said that they were very grateful and glad to meet the MAFAR Fisheries Personnel headed by Ms. Norhainie Pendulat, Chief, Post-Harvest & Marketing Division, and Ms. Janice Suarez for coming to their community and share their knowledge and expertise.
Ms. Janice Suarez shared her technical know-how thru a visual presentation on Introduction to Fisheries Post-Harvest Technology, Proper Fish Handling, Traditional New Methods of Fish Preservation, and Value-added Products. The afternoon session was the actual hands-on training on proper icing of fish during the preservation process and how to prepare the fresh fish for drying.
According to a women representative, they are excited to learn the new technology on how to preserve their products from harvest up to its consumption especially during the rainy season, and how to properly package it that will give them additional income and be able to obtain a fish drying rack for the cleanliness of their fishery products.
On the other hand, the Midsayap Cluster participant from Lower Kadigasan shared that most of their products are directly being delivered to their buyer or ” comprador” for consumption but with MAFAR training they were able to identify another source of income. The lectures and hands-on demo will be a big help on their livelihood especially their place called “pawas” which is teeming with different species of freshwater fishes like of Common Carp or Cyprinus carpio locally known as “Lidep” to Freshwater Tilapia.
Mr. Disumimba Rasheed, Focal Person of 63 Barangay in his closing message thanked his co-employees from MAFAR Fisheries Sector for being diligent in sharing their knowledge to the community and he was equally touched with his brothers and sisters in the area for their eager response and active participation during the training.