Participants pose for a group photo after the closing program.
by AC Battung
The Sugar Palm Research, Information and Trade (SPRINT) Center, through its extension project - Improving and Revitalizing the Opportunities for Kaong Farmers (IROK) towards a Better Quality of Life, conducted an "Orientation Seminar on Sugar Palm Potentials and Training on Sugar Palm Production and Processing Technologies" on November 25-26, 2024 at the SPRINT Center Training Hall (Bulwagang IROK), Cavite State University, Don Severino de las Alas Campus, Indang, Cavite.
The activity was participated by sugar palm farmers, processors, and traders from Indang, Magallanes, and Alfonso, Cavite, and representatives from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Indang, Cavite.
As the first activity of the center’s extension project, the 2-day activity focused on enhancing the participants' awareness of the economic potential and ecological importance of the sugar palm and developing their initial skills in the processing of sugar palm-based products.
Participants were welcomed by Ms. Karen Krista E. Cajilis, the project leader of Project IROK, during the opening program. She also highlighted the purpose of the project, which is to uplift the living conditions of sugar palm stakeholders through promotion, awareness, partnerships, capacity building, empowerment, and technology transfer activities. Asst. Prof. Edgardo A. Gonzales, the director of the SPRINT Center, delivered a brief message reiterating the significance of the extension project. In her message, Dr. Racquel G. Agustin, director of Extension Services, thanked the participants for their presence and assured the center of the Extension Services' support of the project's implementation.
On the first day, a pretest was administered to assess participant's awareness of the sugar palm and the SPRINT Center. It was followed by the presentation of the first topic "Introduction to the SPRINT Center and the Ecological and Economical Benefits of the Sugar Palm," discussed by Mr. Alfie Carl A. Battung, office personnel of the center and project staff of Project IROK. The second topic, "Introduction to Sugar Palm Sap Tapping and Harvesting" was presented by Ms. Annette L. Marges, office personnel of the center and project staff of Project IROK.
As part of their skills development, a sap tapping and harvesting demonstration was conducted by Mr. Rolando C. Avilla, field personnel of the center. He likewise demonstrated the steps of sugar palm natural sweetener (kaong brown sugar) production.
On the second day, the technology on kaong activated carbon (KArbon) was presented and discussed by Engr. Sheryl Dinglasan-Fenol, team member of Project IROK. She emphasized the activated carbon's sustainability, environmental impact, and profitability upon commercialization. It was followed by a demonstration of the product as a water filter, one of the applications of the said technology.
Participants observe the process of producing kaong sugar during the demonstration proper.
Engr. Fenol entertains a question from a participant after her presentation on kaong activated carbon (KArbon).
A consultative meeting was also conducted among participants which was facilitated by Ms. Cajilis and assisted by other project staff, namely: Ms. Marie Abigail I. Cortado, Ms. Heidi P. Paler, Ms. Remilyn V. Concepcion, and Ms. Jan Edrea D. Cortes from the Institute of Food Science and Technology of the College of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Natural Resources; and Ms. Bernadette S. Amparo and Ms. Paula Gie C. Ducusin from the Extension Services. Mr. Joselito F. Ersando, head of the Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the Extension Services was also present during the meeting.
Insights drawn from participants collectively expressed their cooperation and desire to attend future activities set in the project. Participants were also pleased to witness the demonstrations of the two technologies presented.
Ending the two-day activity was a post-test administered to quantify the enhancement or increase of participants' awareness of the sugar palm and the SPRINT Center through the topics discussed and technologies demonstrated. Certificates of participation were also given to attendees.
Finally, in his closing remarks, Prof. Gonzales conveyed his gratitude for the attendance of the participants and lauded their active participation. He also acknowledged their initiative in creating a possible organization for sugar palm farmers in Upland Cavite and in referring the center to other sugar palm stakeholders.
The SPRINT Center is the university’s arm in developing a sustainable, equitable, and environment-friendly sugar palm industry in Upland Cavite and nearby communities. Project IROK, the center's present extension project, was approved on April 16, 2024, and is expected to be implemented for two years.
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