The Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) project of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University and Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO1) made it to the Municipality of Banna, Ilocos Norte last September 20, 2022 bringing agricultural production and food processing trainings to one of the project’s final stops.  

Participants during the one-day training on technologies were 22 BP2 recipients from the towns of Banna, Dingras, and Marcos, Ilocos Norte. These technologies include native chicken production delivered by Mr. Russel B. Barrameda, faculty member from DMMMSU-NLUC College of Agriculture; goat production by Mr. Terson C. Casi, research specialist from DMMMSU-SLUC College of Agriculture; and tilapia breeding and culture shared by Ms. Eden P. Borce, DMMMSU-Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (ATBI) Project Manager.

In the afternoon, recipients were taught food safety and good manufacturing practices and food processing of chicken and tomato with hands-on and return demonstration by the ATBI staff Ms. Erlinda Q. Balancio and Ms. Joana Marie E. Abanes. Bringing the training proper to a close was Prof. Victoria N. Malaya, ATBI and BP2 project leader, who spoke about business planning.

Aimed at helping BP2 recipients create agri-related start-ups from these productive technologies, the BP2 collaborative project of DMMMSU and DA-RFO1 is designed to help in the efforts for successful reintegration of provincial returnees.

Mr. Ronald B. Bustos, Extension head of DMMMSU-SLUC, emphasized in his opening and closing remarks the positive returns of the BP2 project to the participants and to those who will proceed to the development of their enterprises.

“I sincerely hope that many of you here will take advantage of the project especially with the provision of inputs, ideas, and shared facilities by DMMMSU and DA,” he said. Banna’s Municipal Agricultural Office head Mr. Allan Palaspas expressed his utmost gratitude and support to DMMMSU and to the participants as he delivers a short message in the opening program. (RBustos)