The City Government of San Fernando, through the Office of the City Agriculturist, conducted training on Mushroom Processing for 4-H Club officers & members at the Food Terminal in Barangay Biday last Tuesday (March 23, 2021).

A total of forty-one (41) participants (23 females and 18 males) from nine (9) 4-H clubs in Barangays Sibuan-Otong, Bungro, Cabarsican, Sacyud, Bato, Cadaclan, Pacpaco, Masicong, and Bangbangolan.

The  training aims not only to capacitate the 4H-club members on mushroom processing but also to inculcate the importance of entrepreneurial mind setting.

As highlighted by Ms. Mary Jane Alcedo, City Agriculturist, in her message, “having an entreprenuerial mind set will pave the way to economic prosperity.” She added that the City Government has been doing its best and has been giving its all out support to empower young farmers through the provision of different support services/interventions. She stressed that their success depends on how they would embrace and make use of the learnings and experiences. “Isunga kailalaen tayo kuma dagitoy nga programa nga itited ti siyudad tayo ta maysa nga wagas daytoy nga mangiprepara kinyayo nga maging productive and makacontribute ti society tayo in the future” said Ms. Alcedo.

The processed products of mushroom through hands on demo were chicharon, puto, siomai, embotido, burger and ice cream. Taste-test of all the products made by the participants was done after the training. The most-liked product is the mushroom puto followed by ice cream, siomai, embotido, chicharon and burger patty. The trainer for the one-day training was Ms, Filomena Bugaoan, Agriculturist II from the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1.

After the training, the 4-H Club youth participants were also given mushroom fruiting bags for them to produce their own mushroom.

The City Government of San Fernando believes that the future of farming rests in the hands of our younger generation. The City Government will continue to foster youth’s participation in agriculture by making agriculture attractive to them. Capacity development and provision of start-up livelihoods would be a step forward in igniting their interest in agri-fishery business. #SanFernandoAyAyatenKa.