Recognizing the importance of corn in the diet, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) will conduct a series of training for trainers in major corn-producing areas in the Philippines to promote the health benefits of corn.
This three-year project is in line with the goal of the Agri-Pinoy Corn Program of the DA to explore alternative or complementary staple foods other than rice.
The training course being developed for the series of trainings is a two-day traing program composed of an extensive introduction to important information regarding the health benefits of corn consumption.
The course aims to provide awareness and in-depth understanding among corn stakeholders on the potential health benefits of eating corn as alternative or complementary staple to rice and to develop comprehensive materials in promoting the health benefits of corn consumption.
Part of the program’s objectives is the creation of a pool of trainers who will conduct trainings in the different corn-producing regions of the country.
Target participants of the training are the DA extension workers, Provincial Agriculture Officers (PAO’s) and Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAO’s).
The technical working group (TWG) composed of representatives from the different agencies namely, University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB), University of the Philippines, Diliman (UPD), National Nutrition Council-Department of Health (NNC-DOH), Food and Nutrition Research Institute- Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards-Department of Agriculture (BAFPS-DA) will comprise the pool of trainors.
For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/Fax no.: 837-2934, 837-2071 local 2295; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph; mar_v_capanzana@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http//www.fnri.gov.ph. Regina M. Pagaspas, FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service
