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Carmen, Cotabato — In a continuing effort to empower local farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices, the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), in collaboration with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Carmen, conducted a Training on Organic Cardava Production and Management on April 30, 2025, at Sitio 29, Malapag, Carmen, Cotabato.
The activity was part of USM’s Going Bananas Extension Project, an initiative aimed at enhancing the livelihood of banana growers through improved organic farming practices, value-adding technologies, and sustainable enterprise development. The project is led by Rezin G. Cabantug, Science Research Specialist I, who also served as one of the resource persons during the training. SRS Cabantug discussed key topics related to general organic cardava production and management.
Elnora L. Flores, a food processor from USM, also served as one of the resource speakers for the training. She facilitated the hands-on training on Banana Wine Production, teaching participants how to transform cardava bananas into marketable, value-added products.
Meanwhile, Judilyn B. Española, Agriculturist I from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of Carmen, spearheaded a hands-on demonstration on Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)—a natural farming input that enhances soil fertility and plant vigor using locally available materials and microorganisms, including excess banana peels from wine production.
The training included the distribution of information manuals and interactive practical sessions. Thirty-five participants, primarily members of the Carmen Organic Slope Farmers Association (COSFA), were in attendance.
The activity underscored USM’s commitment to community development and its vision to make science-based agricultural services more accessible to grassroots communities. The collaboration also reflects the LGU’s support for sustainable agriculture and its advocacy to strengthen farmer capacities through research-based knowledge sharing.
