BUTUAN CITY -- Recognizing the significant role of the farmers in boosting the soybean industry in the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga through the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) conducted a two-part training on Soybean Processing System last July 13 and 14, and Capability Building for Small-Scale Farmers on Enterprise Development on July 21 and 22.

The training on Soybean Processing aims to promote the value-adding products of soybean and develop a group of soybean farmers into productive soybean entrepreneurs. The topics discussed included Soybean and their Health Benefits, Soybean Based Value Added Products and their Return of Investment, and Food Manufacturing Practices for Food Processing and Proper Hygiene. There were also actual demonstrations of soybean processing.

The training on Enterprise Development aims to help farmers understand the basic principles in Enterprise Development. Topics including Concept in Agripreneurship, Farming as a Business, Marketing Plan, and Business Model Canvass were discussed by personnel from the DA-Caraga’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).

The trainings were conducted in Trento, Agusan del Sur and were participated by 25 members of the United Farmers’ Association of Cebolin (UFAC), a  group composed of farmers engaged in soybean production since 1986.

The association has 10.9 hectares planted with soybean. One hectare is planted with the Manchuria variety while the rest are planted with Tudela Black variety.

DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said that soybean is one of the region’s banner commodities.

“Empowering the farmers through technical assistance and other interventions is one of the keys to a progressive farming industry,” he said.

Other interventions of the DA-Caraga to soybean farmers and organizations are seeds, fertilizers, and post-harvest machinery. (Vanessa P. Sanchez/DA 13-RAFIS/PIA-Agusan del Sur)