To add value to their tilapia production, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Agusan State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) conducted a two-day skills training event on Tilapia Processing and Value-Added Products to the members of the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma alang sa Kalambuang Repormang Agraryo, Inc. held at ASSCAT Center Agri-food Processing and Innovation, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Engr. Loida L. Jones said the skills training focused on processing various tilapia by-products, which include daing, lamayo, nuggets, fille, embotido, and chicharon. The cooperative members were also taught on the right pricing and costing.

“The technology aims to improve the cooperative members’ existing fish processing practices and for them to be knowledgeable on the right pricing and costing,” Jones said.

She disclosed that the activity was implemented under the new product development of the Enterprise Development and Economic Support (EDES) program, which aims to provide hands-on training and share knowledge and skills on the latest post-harvest technology of associations engaged in fish processing.

“This is also one way of addressing post-harvest losses due to overproduction of farmers products,” she added.

Upang dagdagan ang halaga sa kanilang produksyon ng tilapia, ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), sa pakikipagtulungan sa Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), at Agusan State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) ay nagsagawa ng dalawang araw na pagsasanay sa Tilapia Processing and Value-Added Products para sa mga miyembro ng Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma alang sa Kalambuang Repormang Agraryo, Inc. na ginanap sa ASSCAT Center Agri-food Processing and Innovation, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur .

Sinabi ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Engr. Sinabi ni Loida L. Jones na ang pagsasanay ay nakatuon sa pagproseso ng iba't ibang tilapia by-products, kabilang na ang daing, lamayo, nuggets, fille, embotido at chicharon. Ang mga miyembro ng kooperatiba ay tinuruan din ng tamang pagpepresyo at paggastos.

"Layon ng teknolohiya na pahusayin ang mga umiiral na kasanayan sa pagpoproseso ng mga miyembro ng kooperatiba ng isda at para magkaroon sila ng kaalaman sa tamang pagpepresyo at gastos," ani Jones.

Ibinunyag niya na ang aktibidad ay ipinatupad sa ilalim ng new product development ng Enterprise Development and Economic Support (EDES) program, na naglalayong magbigay ng hands-on na pagsasanay at magbahagi ng kaalaman at kasanayan sa pinakabagong post-harvest technology ng mga asosasyong nakikibahagi sa pagproseso ng isda.

“Isa rin itong paraan ng pagtugon sa mga pagkalugi pagkatapos ng ani dahil sa sobrang produksyon ng mga produkto ng magsasaka,” dagdag niya.