MMSU-CAFSD trains Batac farmers on mango processing
By Daniel Tapaoan, Jr., STRATCOM Correspondent
To help mango farmers turn their harvests into profitable products, the MMSU-College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) organized a training on mango processing from April 24 to 25, held at the Food Innovation Center.
Participated in by the members of the Mango Stakeholders’ Association (MSA), Inc. in the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte, the training involves a lecture on the processing technology and competency demonstrations.
The training is part of a niche extension project on “Revitalizing Community Engagement to Institutionalize Partnerships for the Promotion, Extension, and Deployment of the Mango Processing Technology” delivered by the CAFSD Department of Food Science and Technology.
MMSU Extension Director Marilou Lucas said the two-day training aims to capacitate mango farmers in producing, marketing, and sustaining their products.
“This training serves as the college’s response in helping the mango growers reduce their post-harvest losses, and eventually, boost the mango industry in the province,” CAFSD OIC-Dean Charlie Batin said.
Delighted by the initiative, MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. lauded the college for its commitment to extending its agricultural technologies to communities. “Through our extension projects like this, we hope to establish MMSU as a techno-preneurial university, helping communities uplift their quality of life,” he remarked.
Dr. Manzano also thanked the city government of Batac, led by Mayor Albert Chua, and the MSA, headed by President Ruby Ann Yadao, for their strong support of the university’s extension project.
Ilocos Norte is the second largest producer of mango in Region I. In support of this industry, the MMSU has been enriching its mango varieties through the MMSU Fruit Crop Nursery and Pomology, as well as the Lubbot Experimental Farm and the Payao Area in Batac.
In 2024, MMSU and the city government signed a memorandum of agreement aiming to make mango one of the main products of Batac.
Written By:
STRATCOM
