The Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) has trained 45 leaders from fisheries cooperatives and associations on the technology of fish smoking in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
The "Training on AquaNegosyo para sa mga Filipino: Ligtas na Pamamaraan ng Pagtitinapa ng Isda," which was carried out in collaboration with Villar SIPAG Farm School, seeks to improve their knowledge and abilities in fish smoking technology, giving them the resources required to enhance their operations and increase their livelihoods.
The agriculture department said the program helps achieve its overarching objective of reducing rural poverty by assuring food safety.
“Revitalizing an age-old technique in the Philippines, fish smoking is now being implemented with updated protocols to meet the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Sanitation Standards Operating Procedure (SSOP),” the DA said in a statement.
The department said the program aims to elevate the country's fishery products to be more competitive in the global market, ensuring the quality and safety of these products for consumers locally and abroad.
For her part, Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, said in a video message: "Hindi lamang dagdag kita sa ating mga negosyo ang ating matututunan, kundi pati na ang pangangalaga sa ating mga resources (We will not only learn to increase income in our businesses but also to protect our resources).”
Dr. Ulysses Montojo, Riza Banicod, and Deserie Peralta of the NFRDI-Fisheries Postharvest Research and Development Division served as resource speakers during the training on Feb. 9.
According to NFRDI, it is set to hold two more training sessions this year on freshwater aquaculture and disease management of aquatic animals in the same training venue.