Butuan police engage in mushroom production
BUTUAN CITY -- Not just peacekeepers, the police are also feeding the people now.
In a bid
to extend beyond their duty of keeping the peace and order of the barangays
under their jurisdiction, the Butuan City Station 5 personnel have engaged in a
mushroom production project to show the community how they can earn a living.
Station 5
covers 11 barangays that include Amparo, Bitan-agan, Tungao, San Mateo,
Florida, Mandamo, Nongnong, MJ Santos, Manila de Bugabus, Dankias, and Dulag.
According
to Police Major Roland Orcullo, the head of Station 5, the Station Action
Council (SAC) wanted to come up with a project to help the livelihood of the
residents of the covered barangays. The SAC is composed of representatives of
various sectors including education, business, health, and agriculture.
Orcullo
said they wanted something that is doable and not costly so they chose mushroom
production.
Oyster
mushroom is an edible mushroom. Considered a vegetable, it is rich in protein,
vitamins B and C, minerals, and low in fat.
To realize
the project, the SAC sought the assistance of the Department of Agriculture
(DA) – Caraga and requested a training on mushroom production. The training was
conducted at the DA-Caraga Del Monte Lowland Rainfed Research Station back in
the month of May this year. Members of the SAC and other Barangay Officials
attended the training.
After the
training, the DA provided them with 1,000 oyster mushroom fruiting bags to
start their project. The fruiting bags were placed in the old health center in
Brgy. San Mateo. The personnel of the Station 5 takes charge of its care and
maintenance. Last week, they have started harvesting.
Orcullo
said now that they have seen that it is easy to manage, he wants the project to
be replicated in other barangays under Station 5.
“This
project will be a big help to the people especially since have lost their jobs
due to the pandemic,” he said.
On the
other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director Rebecca R. Atega said that
she is happy that even the police force has also taken the initiative to help
produce food for the people. She assured Major Orcullo that DA is willing to
assist such initiatives. (Vanessa P. Sanchez, DA 13-RAFIS/PIA Agusan del
Norte)
