Tabuk City, Kalinga – Cacao growers, processors and entrepreneurs in Kalinga province were provided new skills and knowledge in the three-day Skills Development Training on Tablea and Chocolate Processing Technology as means to boost production and improve local products.
The training was held on September 14 to 16, 2022, spearheaded by the provincial Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with the Food Processing and Innovation Center of Kalinga State University.
Around 25 cacao growers and processors, including young entrepreneurs, had the chance to learn holistic approaches to cacao production and processing, which intend to equip local growers for technology adaptation in cacao processing.
Juliet C. Guieb, the owner of HJ Farms and Services in San Agustin, Isabela shared her expertise and detailed methods and techniques on cacao primary processing, which includes harvesting, pod breaking (bean sizing and segregation), and fermentation preparations and principles.
Also demonstrated during the training are the cacao processing and the general overview of tablea and chocolate production process - roasting, hulling, first and second stage grinding, and paste molding.
Further, Guieb along with the daughter discussed the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to orient the participants in the aspect of quality assurance that ensures that products are consistently produced and controlled.
The cacao expert shared tips and best practices for Cacao Farming and Processing, Industry Opportunities, and the Future of Cacao under the Business Opportunity Learning Session of the training.
At the end of the training, the participants were able to produce tablea or balls of ground-up cacao beans, chocolate powder, dark chocolate, cacao butter, cacao nibs, cacao cookies, and cacao vinegar.
Kevin E. Racraquin, a Business Counselor of the Negosyo Center in Tabuk City, said he is confident the trainees will apply the knowledge and experiences they gained from the training.
“Most of the participants are existing MSMEs so this training will help them come up with additional products to be included in their product lines. They were trained holistically from the cacao farming/production to processing aspects, so we really expect them to produce cacao products very soon,” he added.
Cacao Focal Person and Trade-Industry Development Specialist (TIDS) Enread Bangniwan joined Racraquin in facilitating the training.
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