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To improve the quality, shelf life, and market competitiveness of locally grown bananas, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture–LGU Carmen, conducted a specialized training on Post-Harvest Handling, Sorting, and Storage of Bananas on July 31, 2025, at the Municipal Convention Hall, Poblacion, Carmen, Cotabato. .
The activity gathered 23 farmers and stakeholders from various groups, including the Carmen Organic Slope Farmers Association, Aroman Organic Producers Association, DepEd teachers, 4-H Club members, and the Rural Improvement Club.
The training aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in proper post-harvest techniques to reduce losses, maintain fruit quality, and improve the market value of bananas through effective sorting, grading, and storage methods.
Ritchel O. Torres, Training Specialist II of USM’s Extension Services Office and Ms. Judilyn B. Española, Agriculturist I of DA–LGU Carmen, facilitated the training in collaboration with the staff of the High Value Crops and Food Processing Center (HVCFPC).
Prof. Harem R. Roca, the resource speaker and head of HVCFPC delivered a comprehensive lecture on the post-harvest management of bananas, focusing particularly on the Cardava variety. He emphasized the importance of fruit maturity indicators such as finger angularity, fullness, and the number of days after flowering which are essential for achieving optimal taste, nutritional value, and shelf life in both Cardava and Lakatan varieties.
In a segment dedicated to innovation, Prof. Roca showcased a wide variety of banana-based products developed by USM, such as banana chips, flour, coffee, cookies, vinegar, ketchup, wine, and jam—demonstrating how value-adding can increase income and diversify product offerings.
“These innovations are not just products; they represent opportunities for our young people and farming families to engage in agripreneurship,” he remarked, commending the students who had excelled in banana product development under USM’s Summer Bridging Program.
The training concluded with a product demonstration led by Marlon Manansala, Vivien Imbang, and Alemer Cabantug of the USM HVCFPC. The team showcased various banana-based innovations and value-added processing techniques.
This initiative underscored the vital role of post-harvest management in enhancing banana quality and marketability while empowering local farmers and community members with practical knowledge and innovations they can apply to their farms and agribusiness ventures.
Written by: Ritchel O. Torres
