PHOTO RELEASE
BAYBAY CITY, Leyte─A Jackfruit processing plant for vacuum fried and dehydrated jackfruit has been inaugurated in simple ceremonies in this jackfruit town of Eastern Visayas.
The processing plant is an initiative of the local government of Baybay City in support of the local food processors who are composed mainly of women as agri-entrepreneurs.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Program (ViCAARP), Regional Research and Development Network (RRDEN), DOST 8, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8, and the Agricultural Training Research Institute 8 supported the activity.
With the processing plant for jackfruit, the local government of Baybay City hopes to promote wider adoption of the recommended technologies for jackfruit and strengthen rural-based organizations/cluster of jackfruit farmers to improve their marketing power.
The Visayas State University (VSU), through Dr. Lemuel M. Diamante, a former faculty member from the Department of Food Science and Technology, developed the vacuum fried and dehydrated jackfruit products.
Doing the ribbon cutting to signal the formal opening of the plant are Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin (second from the right), President of the VSU and Chair of the Regional Research and Development Committee (RRDCC) of ViCAARP; Mayor Carmen L. Cari of Baybay City; and Dr. Edwin C. Villar, Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development of DOST-PCAARRD.