Written by Renalyn Villanueva
CATBALOGAN CITY– The Samar State University-Science Technology Community-Based Farm (SSU-STCBF) project team led by Dr. Marife M. Lacaba conducted a Social Preparation and Values Formation Training to Sweet Potato Farmers and Processers of Women’s Association and Farmers’ Association of Brgy. Balante Basey, on February 19 and 26 and March 5 and 12 (21). The training was co-facilitated by faculty from SSU Basey and Paranas Campuses.
Aim of the project is primarily to minimize problems and issues encountered on production by both sweet potato farmers and processers, thereby resulting to an increased sweet potato yield and utilization of the produce as a processed product.
The farmers and women associations gave an excellent evaluation to the training conducted. Also, they sealed a ‘Pledge of Commitment’ and ‘Agreement’ among themselves on sweet potato farming and processing.
Funded by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and implemented by SSU in collaboration with LGU-Basey and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU), this project proved helpful and useful for participants as they expressed their gratitude and attitude to attain common goals.
At present, the Balante Women’s Association processes sweet potato muffins while the SSU-STCBF project team starts a trial-based online selling to check the viability of the said processed product.