Submitted by admin-r4b on
Palawan - In a continuous effort to ensure food security, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) MIMAROPA in partnership with Dumangefia Manaile River IA conducted a value added skills training aimed at capacitating the Irrigators Association (IA) and other key stakeholder on the commercialization of ube (purple yam) commodity in Palawan.
This initiative is under the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) program, designed to address hunger, nutrition, and poverty through sustainable livelihood programs.
The training focused on introducing ube farming as an additional source of income for farmers in Palawan. The absence of an established market for ube has often discouraged mass production. However, this training sought to change that by sharing best practices in ube cultivation from seasoned growers, identifying feasible areas for ube production, and facilitating partnerships with ube consolidators to secure a stable market.
Ube growers also distributed ube seedlings to participants, encouraging immediate and practical application of what they learned.
The program also emphasized the importance of collaboration, with participants engaging in interactive planning, evaluations, and presentations on functionality and performance. The session was spearheaded by Sr. Irrigators Development Officer (IDO) Glenda G. Buenavista, together with Irrigators Development Officer A Aprel C. Garatique, Community Relation Assistant B Jackielyn P. Hamora, Community Relation Assistant A Bonifacio M. Elefane, and Dr. Jibsam F. Andres of Western Philippines University, Aborlan, Palawan, and the R4BFIA Vice-President. Also present during the event are the Pamalpalen Irrigators Association (IA), Dumanguena Manaile River Irrigators Association (IA), and Pulang-Lupa Bulalacao Irrigators Association (IA).
By equipping the Irrigators Associations and other people organization with entrepreneurial and technical skills, NIA aims to help boost their income and build resilient farming communities under the leadership of the NIA MIMAROPA Regional Manager, Ronilio M. Cervantes, and the guidance of NIA Palawan IMO Division Manager, Armando L. Flores.
This program shows NIA's support for farmers in Palawan by helping them move to more sustainable and profitable farming, which helps improve their communities.