CapSU production sees brighter prospects in IGPs, mushroom project

By Niño Manaog

With reports from Adrian Paul de Jose and Emelita Solante

The Capiz State University’s Business Affairs Office (UBAO) headed by Dr. Pedro Gavino facilitated the production and income generation for the Capiz State University for the period in review. For 2009, the University drew income from rice and crops production including sugar cane, lumber, coconut, banana, and vegetables nursery. CapSU’s fishery resources including bangus, tilapia, prawns and crabs from the campuses of Pontevedra, Sapian and Dayao posted a high 914,572 worth of revenues. It also profited from rattan, orchards and charcoal and collected hefty receipts from rentals, canteens, dormitory fees and similar services. All these production areas generated income of approximately PhP3M for the year.

According to Gavino, UBAO coordinated with the NEDA Regional to conduct training on proposal making for funding purposes. Faculty members from across the campuses joined the writeshop that generated KR2 proposals for approval by NEDA. CapSU Dayao’s Dr. Edna Nava wrote a proposal on Bangus Processing Project; Dr. Bede Ozaraga of CapSU Dumarao proposed for Goat Demo Farm and Training Center; while Dr. Guillermo Legada of CapSU Burias finished a proposal on mushroom production. To date, the last of the proposals submitted got the nod of the granting agency.

Under the mushroom production project approved for KR2 funding by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Capiz State University Burias Campus in Mambusao, Capiz aims to facilitate the production of mushroom and mushroom spawns which will be sold to farmers at reasonable cost. The same project will also adopt the needed technologies to increase the production and utilization of this crop.

CapSU Burias will also work with the local government units in Mambusao, Capiz to fully implement the project. The project’s first two years will be funded by KR2 while the last two years will be allowed to cover up the investment. At the end of the four-year project, CapSU forecasts P900,000 profit.  At this writing, the CapSU mushroom production project is in its pre-implementation phase.

In particular, the project will produce straw and oyster mushroom and their spawns. In the course of the project, the implementers will train some 300 mushroom producers and product entrepreneurs. It will also employ additional personnel but most importantly generate research results and income for the University to sustain mushroom research and production.

The P1.8M project seeks to benefit mushroom producers and consumers and the CapSU community as well. The mushroom project will facilitate the construction of media preparation house and growing house, the procurement of equipment and materials needed for mushroom and spawn production. It will conduct training for mushroom producers and product entrepreneurs before, during and after the project implementation.

Dr. Guillermo Legada, current graduate school dean at CapSU Mambusao, heads the project; and Prof. Emelita Solante will undertake the production activities and implement the laboratory activities.