About 30 extension workers from various towns and cities in Oriental Negros, with technical personnel from the Provincial Agriculturist's Office, are attending a two-day training on the processing and marketing of exotic fruits.

The training held Wednesday and yesterday in Bacong town is in support for the food production program of Gov. Emilio Macias II, and is designed to provide livelihood and employment opportunities for the people, spokesman Oliver Lemence said. Macias believes that providing livelihood and employment opportunities through agricultural and food production will enhance the socio-economic standing of various families in the countrysides, he said.

Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca said the training is in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture in Region 7 and the Agricultural Training Institute in Central Visayas.

Participants are being trained on high value commercial crops production, exotic fruit tree growing and post-harvest technology.

Paltinca said the training also aims at providing the participants with a working knowledge on the market demand and prospects for processing exotic fruits like mango, banana, papaya and jackfruit, which can be sold at local markets and even in the international market.

With the right technology and being able to meet the market demand, growing and processing of exotic fruits can not only ease the lives of farmers but also bring in dollars to the country, Paltinca added. *JG

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