More 'empowered entrepreneurs' graduate from Villar SIPAG Farm School Dragon Fruit Training

The Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) Farm School continues to produce more empowered entrepreneurs as another batch of trainees graduated from its first 5-month Dragon Fruit Production and Cultivation, Skills-Up and Business Set-Up.

"We are providing this training course because we want our farmers to take advantage of the commercial value of dragon fruits and provide them with opportunities to increase their income from other crops," stressed Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

Villar, also Managing Director of Villar SIPAG, said that dragon fruit production is the latest training course offered for free at the Villar SIPAG Farm School.

The Villar SIPAG Farm School is also providing courses on urban farming, livestock production, and aquaculture, among others.

The dragon fruit training, conducted by Dragon Fruit Master of the Philippines Edilberto "Edy" Marcos, was launched last April 18, 2017. It aims to teach the participants put up their own dragon fruit farm and make their own products which could help them start their own business in the field of agriculture (agribusiness).

The training also included a farm visit at the Quee Town Farm in Indang, Cavite.

During the training, participants were taught how to make dragon fruit wine, vinegar, dragon fruit ice cream, cupcake, jelly, dishes like dragon fruit omelet, and other products made of dragon fruit.

They also acquired skills and knowledge in the field of agribusiness, including setting up of drip irrigation on their farms, producing dragon fruits during off season using solar power system and financial literacy.

The Department of Trade and Industry Region Region 4A - Cavite also conducted a session on marketing and how to come up with an ideal label and packaging for the products made by the participants.

Products made by the participants took center stage in their recent graduation.

Dragon fruits can be taken as a fruit, flower, vegetable and as a health product. It became a popular commodity because of its health benefits such as the prevention of cancer and hypertension, enhancement of metabolism, and improvement of the immune system.