The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has extended its enhanced mushroom cultivation technology to mushroom growers in Cebu province under its Grants-In-Aid (GIA) program.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed between the DOST Region VII through Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Cebu and Cebu Province Mushroom Growers Agriculture Cooperative (CPMGAC) for the upgrading of mushroom cultivation technologies and enhanced capabilities of the enterprise under the GIA program.
The MOU signing was held on July 14.
“The project aims to provide science and technology interventions for the commercial development progress of community-based enterprise for production of mushrooms,” de la Peña said.
He said with the signing of the MOU, the cooperative is expected “be upgraded into an industrial type mushroom farming to expand its market reach and to produce mushrooms with good quantity and quality.”
The DOST-PSTC Cebu said the implementation of the project also includes the conduct of technology training to provide sustainable livelihood and income opportunities for the residents of the community.
The upgrading of mushroom cultivation technologies and enhanced capabilities of the enterprise was led by Officer-in-Charge (OIC)—Provincial Director of PSTC Cebu Engr. Juan Edgar Osorio together with CPMGAC Board Director Chairperson Dorothy Degula and CPMGAC Board of Director Ranel Gigante Hijapon.
DOST’s GIA program intends to contribute to productivity improvement and quality of life of Filipinos by generating and promoting appropriate technologies and by strengthening the participation of various science and technology (S&T) sectors in research and development (R&D).