Los Baños, Laguna–The economic profitability and viability of developed value chains of sweetpotato in Tarlac, Albay, Leyte, and Samar were reviewed at the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) headquarters recently.
Dr. Julieta R. Roa of the Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center, Visayas State University (PhilRootcrops, VSU) discussed the overall advancements of the program in selected provinces and shared the challenges in its implementation.
Project 1 Component leader, Marlon M. Tambis of PhilRootcrops, on the other hand, presented the progress of the established value chains of sweetpotato as a result of the capacity building and trainings on farm management, product development, processing and packaging in selected municipalities of Leyte and Samar. Engr. Daniel Leslie S. Tan, also a component leader of Project 1, meanwhile reported the zero waste mechanization processing system of the project which aims to be compliant to the requirements of good manufacturing practices.
Similarly, the steady growth of the sweetpotato industry in Tarlac and Albay was discussed by project leaders Dr. Irene M. Adion of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 (DA-RFO3) and Engr. Percival N. de Villa of the Provincial Agricultural Services in Albay (PAS-Albay).
Elmer E. Enicola, Technical Evaluator, shared his insights in improving the value chains through several means while emphasizing the use of the best variety suited for a specific developed food product. In addition, he said that one of the most important factors to consider in determining value chain sustainability and product profitability is consumer preference.
The DOST-PCAARRD technical review team was led by Enicola, together with Dr. Edna A. Anit, Assistant Director of the Crops Research Division (CRD-PCAARRD), Ms. Abigail May O. Retuta, Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Sweetpotato of CRD, and Christian L. Abeleda of the Socio-Economics Research Division, (SERD-PCAARRD).