IN PHOTOS | The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas (DA7) recently a conducted a cassava chipping and proper drying demonstration for the indigenous people (IP) in Negros Oriental.

The technology demonstration, conducted by the DA7’s Kabuhayahan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) Program is to help the IP group, the Association of Cultural Minority Groups of Tayawan (ACULMIGTA) in Bayawan City, for them to produce high quality cassava granules.

During the actual demonstration, Henry Cabonelas, the cassava staff of the region assigned in Negros Oriental, demonstrated and showed the exact thickness of the cassava chip, which can be dried quickly. On the proper drying procedure, Cabonelas demonstrated the correct spreading of the fresh cassava chips on a cemented floor, which need to be flipped or turned over at a time with the use of a clean shovel.

“The maximum drying time of the cassava chip directly under the heat of the sun is 2 days”, he said.

Mercinda Bonghay, the president of ACULMIGTA, expressed her gratitude to DA-4Ks for the cassava production training as a livelihood and an added source of income.

In the past years, she said they only plant sugarcane in all their tilled areas due to lack of knowledge and technologies on other alternative crops to plant in their area.

She added that their association has received cassava seed pieces, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs to start their cassava plantation which the members actively participated.

Edwardo Bonghay, the Chieftain of the IP group, said that he is beyond thankful to the DA for looking into their well-being and helping them improved their livelihood.