THE VISAYAS State University’s Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center has partnered with a humanitarian group to help farmers and fisherfolks and revitalize agriculture amid the pandemic.

In partnership with the Christian humanitarian organization “Food for the Hungry Philippines”, PhilRootcrops will handle technical assistance while the funding will come from the organization.

The project will prioritize the production and processing of sweet potato and cassava-based high-value food.

The university added that the project will help Western Samar unlock its potential for more livelihood opportunities for both fisherfolks and farmers.

A Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Center was launched in Marabut, Samar.

It will serve as the processing hub for root crop-based food products that were generated by the training center.

“This new project aims to develop the whole value chain involved in the root crops production system to mainstream sweet potato and cassava products not just in the region but also in the entire country,” VSU said.

“Being the central national agency mandated to conduct research and development on roots and tubers, PhilRootcrops commits to lead in the massive promotion of this underappreciated but highly valuable commodity to empower community people in the countryside,” it added.