By Lemuel Karl Tadios
BASEY, SAMAR – In its second year of implementation, the team of Samar State University (SSU) – Science and Technology Community Based Farm (STCBF) on Sweet Potato Production held a dialogue with Mayor Luz Ponferrada on March 30 (22) to propose the launching of sweet potato products in the entry points of the municipality’s tourist destination sites and the opening of the third demo farm for the DOST-funded project.
The proposals, aimed at increasing the livelihood opportunities of sweet potato farmers and at developing more by-products for the women processers, were subsequently approved and supported by the town’s chief executive stressing that these interventions can help improve the living conditions of the marginalized sectors in her locality.
Also present in the meeting was the Senior Tourism Operations Officer Evangelina Odal-Ritaga of LGU-Basey who backed the proposed activity and expressed that this will be beneficial, especially that they are aiming for the establishment of Farm tourism sites. Considering that the town is one of the favorite destinations in the province, this initiative could open more doors for the sweet potato farmers and processers to market their produce and by-products like muffins, cookies, chips, fries, and brownies.
“I appreciate the team and the implementing agency. And so I commit to support the activities which will be conducted in the weeks to come,” expressed Mayor Ponferrada.
