The Bangsamoro government’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) held a five-day coconut production and processing training for Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Basilan on October 5 to 9, the Bangsamoro Information Office reported.
Thirty farmers from two IP-led cooperatives took part in the training at Sitti Auna Riverland Resort in Lamitan City.
What They Learned
Experts from the Philippine Coconut Authority in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PCA-BARMM) led the sessions. Senior Agriculturist Lemuel Soriano covered:
- Proper planting techniques
- Farm maintenance
- Sustainable cultivation methods
- Coconut processing
Sharing the Skills
MIPA Ancestral Domain Division section head Benito Algan Jr. urged participants to share what they learned with their communities and keep the projects going.
Lamitan City IP Mandatory Representative Raja Bayan Marujin said building farm skills helps Indigenous communities become economically self-sufficient in the long run.
“The successful conduct of the training reflects MIPA’s continuing commitment to empowering Indigenous Peoples through capacity-building, sustainable agricultural development, and cooperative strengthening,” the ministry said.
Why It Matters
MIPA said the goal of teaching both farming and processing is to make the most of ancestral lands and drive inclusive growth in the region.
