To strengthen the promotion of developed corn products in Region 02, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office No. 02 (DA-RFO 02) in tandem with the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) had launched a coffee table book entitled “Cagayan Valley’s Amaizeing Corn Products.”

The book discusses the DA-RFO 02’s initiatives on product development particularly on how its divisions and stations shall complement each other especially in assisting producers and processors.

It features the products developed by DA-Cagayan Valley Research Center (CVRC) such as gourmix, café bagga, cracknick, maize silky sip, white/purple corn noodles (pansi) and corn-rice mixes.

Regional Executive Director Lorenzo M. Caranguian and RTD Rose Mary G. Aquino turned over copies to BAR Executive Director Nicomedes Eleazar, Department of Tourism Region 02, Provincial Local Government Unit of Isabela, City Government of Ilagan (the Corn Capital of the Philippines), Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) Region 02 Chairman and selected farmers and cooperatives.

According to Caranguian, DA-RFO 02 is willing to transfer the technology to interested parties who are willing to start a business using the said products.

“We will also closely coordinate with Departments of Trade and Industry and Science and Technology and other institutions to help our farmers through the conduct of training on marketing, labeling, business planning, financial management and other related topics that interest them,” he said.

“We hope that this book shall further intensify the implementation of our battlecry which is Cagayan Valley Towards Agri-preneurship. It is not enough that we produce enough crops and livestock. We also need to process and add value to our products for higher income.”

The book was published by DA-RFO 02 through its Research Division in cooperation with the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, Integrated Laboratory Division, Regulatory Division, Food Technology Center, Research Centers and Experiment Stations and Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section who form part of the formulated Product Development Framework.