BY ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ
Camote tops, locally called “talbos ng kamote,” which could be seen anywhere in the country, even growing in vacant lots and on the roadside, is not only for salad or pork stew.
It can also be used in making ‘pandesal.’
The farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) will be the ones who will be given the opportunity to establish bakeries that serve nutrient-rich “kamote pandesal,” as part of the livelihood program of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Luis Meinrado Pangulayan said the project is in the offing as the DAR has already organized an agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization in San Miguel, Bula Camarines Sur, and the bakery being set-up to serve kamote pandesal.
“These bakeries are not ordinary because it would produce kamote-pandesal as we call it because it is pandesal made from talbos ng kamote (camote tops),” he explained.
“This vegetable is full of nutrients. We would make pandesal with this plant and use them for business and serve them to Filipino families,” he added.
He pointed out that camote tops requires very low maintenance, free, and it grows in a few days compared to malunggay leaves.
“According to research, this plant helps in regulating blood sugar, inhibits the coagulation of the blood, strengthens bones, good for the eyes and improves in menstrual cycles among its other benefits,” he said.
Pangulayan explained that DAR provides training to the agrarian reform beneficiaries for this project to make them more productive.
“The DAR does not just distribute lands to the landless farmers, the Department also supports them in their economic empowerment,” he said.
