CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- Thirty (30) Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) belonging to the Sikap-Kabuhayan Agrarian Reform Cooperative in San Fernando, Romblon attended a "Hands-on Training on Cassava Crackers Making" sponsored by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held in Barangay Espana, San Fernando, Romblon.

Officials and personnel from the two agencies facilitated the training to commercialize and promote the cassava industry as potential alternative food crops to support the ultimate goal of the government to achieve food sufficiency in the country.

Camilo Claro Pacquing, DAR-Romblon Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, expressed the DAR’s commitment to support and develop the cooperative’s products.

“The participants were trained both through digital presentation and hands-on application of the cassava production process,” he said.

He disclosed that the DTI representatives provided technical interventions for them to be aware of the cost and pricing strategies and also assisted in product labelling and packaging.

“Product diversification is an innovative leap to add in the cooperative's existing "nito handicraft products" with that goal to create another source of income and additional employment opportunity for the members of the cooperative,” he said. (DAR MIMAROPA)