Kasuy is one of the many fruit species in the Philippines that has a strong export potential. Plus, its commercial production could be an important source of income for many Filipino farmers.
Cuyo Island is located in the northern part of Palawan and is one of the highest producers of cashew in the province. Cuyonons usually plant cashew for its nut while the cashew apple, which is 90% of the fruit, is used to feed animals like cattle and pigs.
With that situation, Department of Agriculture-MIMAROPA headed by the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) in the coordination with the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) conducted a Teknotalakayan on Cashew Processing at the Rural Agriculture Center in Cuyo Island on March 20.
This Teknotalakayan aims to teach farmers the proper way of planting cashew and the importance of processing its fruit. As Ms. Librada Fuertes, Senior Science Specialist of DA-Palawan Research Experiment Station (PRES) said, “Kailangan matutunan ng mga magsasaka kung paano i-process ang kasuy. Yung cashew apple maari nila itong mapapagkakitaan. Sa buong bunga kasi ng kasuy, 90% ang cashew apple, kung maipa-process nila ang cashew apple mas malaki ang kanilang kikitain.”
The 70 cashew growers from the different barangays of Cuyo were eager to learn of the different ways to process cashew. The participants were divided into three groups where they were assigned to do cashew jam, cashew candy and cashew prunes. The resource speakers from PRES also taught them on how to make cashew wine, chips kasuy and choco-coated cashew nuts.
“Malaking tulong po ang training na ito dahil natutunan namin ang mga magagandang gawin sa kasuy na ito, laman man o bunga. Kasi dito po sa Cuyo, tinatapon na lang yung laman ng kasuy. Pwede pala itong iluto para mabenta at maging tulong sa kabuhayan ng pamilya.” Brgy. Kagawad Antonio Acero of Catadman said.
While Municipal Agriculture Officer Bernabe Sabuya lauded the conduct of the information caravan, he said, “Marami ng miyembro ng asosasyon ang nagre-request sa akin na magkaroon ng training sa cashew. Kaya nga itong info caravan na ito, natuwa talaga kami. Kasi ngayon lang nila nalaman na yung mga kasuy na kinakain lang ng baboy ay mapapakinabangan pala.”
He also appreciated DA’s effort to travel to their island despite the long hours of the trip.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa DA Regional Office dahil sa pamamagitan ng tulong niyo ay nakarating dito yung mga income generating na katulad nito,” he added.
