Famers undergo training on corn by-products utilization

CORN BY-PRODUCTS. Rural Improvement Club (RIC) members-farmers from different parts of Camarines Sur underwent training on the utilization and manufacturing of corn by-products last October 28-30, 2019. pgomultimediarbmjr110619 with photos from fb_ProvinceofCamSur

Thirty corn farmers and Rural Improvement Club (RIC) members from different parts of Camarines Sur underwent the training on the utilization and manufacturing of corn by-products on October 28-30, 2019. The event was held by the Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) - Region V, in partnership with the provincial government, to provide an additional source of income to women and farmers and help ensure rice sufficiency in the province through the rice-corn blend.

Rice-corn blend, a mixture of rice and corn grits, contains more minerals, vitamins, and proteins compared to rice.To promote the blend, lectures on the different mixtures of rice and corn grits and the health benefits of corn were held in the training. “The rice-corn blend will not only ensure food security in local communities in CamSur but also fight malnutrition and diabetes,” said Edgardo Nacario, the corn focal person of DA-ATI.

In the training, participants also learned to create Christmas decorations, flower decorations, and dolls using corn husks. “This training is useful this holiday season; I will create decorations for Christmas. Through this, I will enjoy more at home while earning extra income,” shared 47-year old housewife Sherley Ogayon from Sipocot, Camarines Sur. “When I go home, I will also encourage our RIC president to hold a handicraft-making training for our organization because this kind of training can really be a big help for us women,” she added.

Handicraft Specialist Teressa Arabaca, who led the handicraft-making training, shared, “I was also trained by DA-ATI many years ago. Now, I manufacture various products made of corn husk, banana fiber, and waterlily. I earn a good amount of money from my products, so I also want others to enjoy the benefits of creating handicrafts.”

Furthermore, lectures on the cooking techniques of native corn and Gender and Development (GAD) were held in the event. The lecture on GAD was held to ensure that after the training, women will be more empowered and gender equality will be further promoted in the province.

The provincial government, under the leadership of Governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte, consistently collaborates with DA to ensure that members of RIC and farmer organizations in the province can benefit from various livelihood and agricultural trainings.