I
t was not all science and technology during the Rootcrops Technology Forum, which was held recently at the Convention Hall of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte.
The forum, one of the activities in connection with the Rootcrops FIESTA, proved to have humanized science and technology as it had the vital ingredients of a successful technology transfer: partnership, wellness, hope, and compassion.
Adopting the theme Rootcrops innovations for health and inclusive growth, the Rootcrops FIESTA was one of the highlights of VSU’s 91st Anniversary Celebration.
To inspire and motivate more people to increase the use of roots and tubers, the technology forum provided information on the health benefits of rootcrops and the different technological innovations that can be applied to improve rootcrops’ productivity and efficiency.
The forum gathered farmers, extension workers, academicians, students, representatives from various government agencies and non-government organizations as well as members of the media.
Farms and Industry Encounter through the Science and Technology Agenda, or FIESTA for brevity, is a technology diffusion strategy initiated by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
Considered as FIESTA’s main activity, the technology forum provides a venue for the discussion not only of technologies, but also of farming trends and issues about a particular focus commodity, in this case, rootcrops.
With the Rootcrops Technology Forum, the Leyteños recognized a truly dependable commodity, which proved to be a part of numerous accounts of survival during the time of typhoon Yolanda. After typhoon Yolanda has decimated every agricultural area in the entire province of Leyte, rootcrops were the only agricultural produce left to nourish a throng of famished locals who survived the tragedy. 
Rootcrops, in layman’s term, refers to the group of crops, which produce underground tubers or corms. Common among these crops are cassava (Manihot esculenta); sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas); potato (Solanum tuberusum); and yams (Dioscorea esculenta), which constitute the so-called major rootcrops.
Experts in rootcrop production, processing, including their health benefits, served as resource persons. These consist of Dr. Dilberto O. Ferraren and Dr. Algerico M. Mariscal, both professors and plant breeders of the PhilRootcrops and Dr. Daniel Leslie S. Tan, professor and head of the post-production division of PhilRootcrops, which is based at VSU.
PhilRootcrops is the lead agency of the National Rootcrop RDE Network, a group of institutions responsible for planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating research and development/extension programs in support to the rootcrop industry.
Focusing on rootcrop processing, particularly on rootcrops-based products, such as dried chips, granules, flour, grates, and starch, Dr. Tan inspired the audience on rootcrop enterprise and its contribution to economic development.
Dr. Mariscal, meanwhile, discussed the importance of cassava, as a wonder crop in the new millennium and its various uses such as food, animal feed, alcohol, sweetener, medicine, and textile, among others.
Mariscal likewise discussed the challenges in cassava production, particularly pest and diseases.
Most notable of these diseases is phytoplasma or witches’ broom (phytoplasma candidatus asteris), a systemic disease, which causes high yield loss and reduction of starch content.
To avoid the disease, Mariscal advised the use of clean planting materials, burning of infected plants, quarantine, and the planting of other crops in areas with previous phytoplasma infection.
Also serving as resource persons were Dr. Trinidad P. Trinidad, nutrition scientist from the University of Sto. Tomas, College of Sciences, who talked about rootcrops nutrition and health benefits.
“Rootcrops are good source of soluble dietary fiber that actively lowers cholesterol in the body and prevents tumor formation in the colon,” Dr. Trinidad explained.
“Rootcrops are essentials in fighting malnutrition as they are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and vitamins among other nutrients,” Trinidad added.
Other resource persons on rootcrop processing and enterprise were Susan Q. Empeynado, Senior Agriculturist of Dapitan City; Arnold Labunog, proprietor, Jojie’s Bakeshop; and Dr. Marlene B. Agabon, freelance consultant and owner-manager of Nutri-pros, which is based in Antipolo, Rizal.
Empeynado, an agricultural technologist on rice, shared how fate brought her to Dapitan City with her cassava chippy technology, which she learned from VSU. As an extension worker, she went to different barangays to teach the technology. Barangay Asemiero became her pilot area. Having proved how productive and salable the product was, within a short span of time, most of the land areas in the barangay were already planted to cassava. 
Labunog, from a bigger business perspective, shared how a small family business, which started with two outlets in 2008, has come to be the present Pa-initang Bol-anon with its 22 branches. The family’s business sells bread, cakes, and pastries made from rootcrops, especially cassava.
Pa-initang Bol-anon has been awarded as one of the most outstanding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, Bohol Chapter. It has been featured by the Entrepreneur Magazine in its January 2013 issue. The Cebu Pacific Smile Magazine has also mentioned it as the frequent flyers’ choice for breakfast in its October-November 2012 issue.
Arnold was grateful for the assistance provided by PhilRootcrops for the cassava grates processing technology and by the Department of Science and Technology through its Set-Up Program. Pa-initang Bol-anon processes about 1,500 kg of cassava daily.
“We are committed to develop and promote delicacies from local produce, our humble way of supporting local farmers,” Arnold said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Agabon shared her advocacy of turning slothfulness to productivity among the residents in two barangays of Antipolo City. She recounted how she encouraged the residents, both men and women, to plant rootcrops.
“Do you still remember what happened in Tacloban when the area was struck by typhoon Yolanda? Money became worthless as there was nothing to buy. It was rootcrops, which made most people survived,” she told them.
As a medical doctor, Dr. Agabon explained to the residents the health benefits of eating rootcrops and encouraged them to plant more, not only for their families, but also for added income. She also attended to the concerns of production and marketing the produce of the residents through Nutri-pros.
Indeed, the Rootcrops Technology Forum has brought forth the human angle of rootcrops as a commodity of hope and faith in the midst of adversities.