DOST-RO2 boosts assistance to Isabela farmers with 20 units of Multi-Purpose Solar Drying trays
TUGUEGARAO CITY- Over 120 Isabela farmers in the Cagayan Valley region look forward to improving the quality of their produce after the Department of Science and Technology Region 02 (DOST-RO2) office provided six of their agricultural cooperatives 20 units of Multi-Purpose Solar Drying Trays. The equipment were given free.
The six farmers cooperatives include the Nakar Agriculture Cooperative, IP Agricultural Credit Cooperative, Dimas Agriculture Cooperative, Jones Goat Raiser Agriculture Cooperative, and the Dibulan Farmers Organization. All six are in the fourth district of Isabela province. The last two are based in Jones, Isabela.
Isabela 4th district Representative Alyssa Sheena P. Tan said the cooperatives’ farmer-members will significantly benefit from the post-harvest equipments provided by DOST-R02, particularly in speeding up the drying and ensuring the enhanced quality of their farm produce. The Multi-purpose Solar Drying Trays will cut by half the time traditional sun-drying method takes.
DOST-R02 Regional Director Sancho Maborang said the solar dryers can be used to dry various farm products including grains, tobacco, meat and fish, among many others.
The farmer benefisries are from communities covered by the DOST Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program.