THE VISAYAS State University PhilRootcrops  facilitated a learning exchange between cassava stakeholders in Region 8 that led to the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

The participants were farmers and representatives from Fatima Multi-Purpose Cooperative and a group of cassava starch industry players in Maramag, Bukidnon.

The university said farmers shared their best practices and experiences.

“All stakeholders gained a lot of relevant information that would significantly improve their current practices,” it added.

The participants also visited the RICOR Mills Corporation cassava starch factory, the biggest in the Philippines, to witness cassava starch processing.

This aimed to expose the cooperative and the farmers to new opportunities in cassava, the university said.

“Another purpose of the visit was to learn further the pressing issues confronting the cassava industry which can be used as important inputs for PhilRootcrops’ development planning activities for the improvement of the industry nationwide,” it added.

PhilRootcrops offered cassava varieties that are ideal for starch processing for testing at RICOR and explored possible research collaboration in the production and post-harvest uses of cassava.