DTI trains Guimaras farmers on value-added vegetable products

GUIMARAS — The Department of Trade and Industry-Guimaras trained farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries in producing value-added vegetable products to help them diversify income sources and develop market-ready goods.

Through its Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, or CARP, DTI-Guimaras conducted the two-day training on value-adding techniques for vegetable-based products on Aug. 28–29, 2026, at Dannie’s Farm in Sebaste, Sibunag, Guimaras.

The training was held for members of the Palhe-Sebaste Farmers and ARBs Association.

A total of 20 participants, including 16 women and four men, received practical instruction and hands-on training in turning locally available vegetables into nutritious and marketable food products.

Food technologist Ma. Leah Danasco served as the training consultant and guided participants through techniques for processing and developing vegetable-based products.

The training aimed to strengthen participants’ skills in value addition while encouraging product diversification and enterprise development.

During the hands-on sessions, participants developed six products: squash canton, squash miki, squash chips, moringa canton, moringa miki, and moringa-squash chips.

DTI-Guimaras said the activity demonstrated how locally available agricultural commodities can be processed into products with higher market value.

Value-adding techniques can help farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries maximize their produce, create new product lines, reduce postharvest losses, and pursue additional income-generating opportunities.

To move the products toward commercialization, DTI-Guimaras will assist the association with product costing and pricing.

The agency will also facilitate shelf-life and food safety assessments, packaging and label development, market testing, business matching, and market linkages.

DTI-Guimaras will provide monitoring and follow-up coaching as the association further develops the products.

The interventions are intended to help the association improve product quality, reach potential markets, and build sustainable enterprise opportunities.

DTI’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program provides business development and livelihood assistance to agrarian reform beneficiaries and agrarian reform communities as part of the agency’s enterprise-development mandate.

Through its CARP interventions, DTI-Guimaras said it will continue helping farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries add value to local resources and develop viable and competitive enterprises.