1,272 farmers finish mushroom trainings

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Sunday, January 22, 2017
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ILOILO City – A total of 1,272 enterprising Western Visayas farmers completed the training on community-based mushroom production in 26 sites for 2016.

According to Elmer Cabusas, regional rice program action officer and mushroom project focal person, the training is one of the interventions given to farmers in support to the Palayamanan model among lowland rice farmers.

“Integration of all farm resources which is the core concept of Palayamanan system is highlighted in the training. Rice straw/hay is used as primary medium in making mushroom substrates,” said Cabusas.

Training sites were in Iloilo,  Guimaras, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo.

The project produced 1,250 bottles spawns which were used in the production of mushroom fruiting bags for trainings and growers.

Eden Panisales, in-charge of the on-station modules, said the team produced 24,150 fruiting bags which were used during trainings, mushroom fruit processing and distributed to walk-in clients for mass dissemination of information about mushroom and its nutritive value.

Nine new innovations in mushroom processing can be made by an entrepreneur like mushroom empanada, patty, siomai, crispy mushroom, embutido, tempura, puto-pao, atchara/pickled mushroom and ice cream.

“We would be glad to re-echo our training on these products to farmers’ organizations after we have learned of these technologies on mushroom product development training in Zambales,” said Panisales.

Entrepreneur Charlene Genciana of Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City wan one of the successful beneficiary, with a 4,000 fruiting bags situated in her 400-square meter lot.

Kick-starting her project in May of 2016, she started harvesting the following month.

She was able to join trade fairs and exhibits, organic market display and product market matching.

Continuing technical assistance and provision of supplies and materials specifically of spawn and mother culture and market linkages were among of the interventions constantly provided by the Department of Agriculture – Region 6’s technical persons. (James Earl Ogatis, DA-6/PN)

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