Members of the Rootcrops Farmers Association in Laurel, Batangas were capacitated on the value addition of Ube (purple yam) in a technology training conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Laurel, Batangas (LGU-Laurel) through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, held at Brgy. San Gregorio, Laurel, Batangas, last May 4.
Thirty-five farmer members of the association participated in the training, which aimed to increase the profitability of ube, make value-added products from ube part of LGU-Laurel’s banner products, and develop sustainable agriculture-based enterprises. They were trained in processing ube jam and ube chips as value-added products from ube.
A discussion on ube, its in-demand varieties, health benefits, and product applications was provided to the participants to level off their understanding of ube processing technologies. Actual processing followed after the discussion, and participants had the opportunity to do it themselves. Mr. Romel M. Felismino and Ms. Claire S. Zubia, University Researchers at the Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, facilitated these activities.
Meanwhile, an awareness seminar on Basic Food Hygiene was also incorporated into the training to ensure the association’s compliance with food safety requirements. Topics covered during the discussion were sanitary permits, health certificates, quality and protection of food, primary production, establishment (design of facilities and equipment), training and competence, establishment maintenance, cleaning and disinfection, pest control, personal hygiene, control of the operation, product information and consumer awareness, and the special provisions of P.D. 856. Mr. John Maico M. Hernandez, a DOST-CALABARZON Food Safety Team member, served as the resource speaker.
Trained farmer members are expected to continue producing these value-added products from ube as their agriculture-based enterprise. The official launching of the products produced will be during the LGU-Laurel’s Farmer’s Festival this May.#
