DAWV mushroom project wins Regional CSC HAP award

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has recognized The Project MUSHIE as one of its esteemed regional winners for 2024 under the Pagasa Award Category. Competing in the Group Category, The Project MUSHIE from the Department of Agriculture Western Visayas comprises a dedicated team: Francis G. Capino, Science Research Specialist II and Team Leader; Susana D. Jeroso, Senior Science Research Specialist; and Leah Gay V. Veloso, Market Specialist III.
The CSC Pagasa Award honors individuals or groups of up to five members for their exceptional contributions that benefit multiple government departments. This recognition is part of the CSC’s Honor Awards Program (HAP), which annually identifies outstanding government workers demonstrating exemplary performance and achievements.

The Department of Agriculture’s Community-Based Mushroom Production Project (CBMPP)plays a crucial role in fostering community-based enterprise development, on-station production, and rigorous research activities. The Project MUSHIE team, affectionately known as Ka-Mushies, has driven the Mushroom Enterprise Development, Utilization, Studies, Harvest, Innovation, and Expansion (MUSHIE) initiatives under CBMPP.

Their efforts have provided training to 4,526 individuals, with 250 adopters turning to mushroom entrepreneurship to supplement their incomes and enhance their health. This initiative has also led to the establishment of 12 community-based enterprises and the formation of a federated mushroom group, significantly improving and stabilizing the mushroom supply chain.

In the past decade, the mushroom industry in Panay, Guimaras, and Negros has flourished under CBMPP’s guidance, creating new opportunities for technology adopters. The number of mushroom cooperators in Western Visayas surged from 60 in 2013 to 1,814 in 2022. To meet the region’s potential market needs of 662.31 MT, Project MUSHIE has intensified its implementation, working closely with other government agencies and empowering organized mushroom enterprises. The demand for mushrooms is high in both local and international markets, making this project vital for the region’s economic and health benefits.

Congratulations to The Project MUSHIE team for their remarkable achievements and well-deserved recognition as one of the regional winners of the 2024 CSC Pagasa Award.###(MCMBuala/DA-RAFIS 6)