Seoul, 18 August 2019 ? The Philippine Embassy conducted the first ever Agri-Business Seminar on Mushroom Production for Filipinos in Korea.

The project was launched by the Embassy as part of the Agri-business Reintegration Program spearheaded jointly by the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO OWWA) in Seoul, in cooperation with Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the Education Promotion and Information Services (EPIS).

The program, which was attended by forty-five (45) OFWs, provided the participants with a comprehensive seminar on mushroom production using smart farm technology, with actual farm operations demo and facility tour of the Chungnyang Mushroom Farm in Gangwon Province.

The resource speaker, Mr. Kim Minsoo, is the Chief Executive Officer of Chungnyang Mushroom Farm and President of Korea's Mushroom Growers Association. For developing internet-based farm operating system, he was given a Presidential Award and named a Star for Future Farming.

Ambassador Noe A. Wong lauded the MAFRA-EPIS for extending their information services on smart farming to Filipinos working in Korea and providing them with actual exposure to new farming technologies and productivity tools. He encouraged the Filipino community to continue to avail of the government's Reintegration Preparedness Program in order maximize the benefits of overseas employment and ensure that upon their reintegration, they can apply what they learn from Korea and succeed in operating their respective enterprises in the Philippines.

The participants, who are all OWWA members, commended POLO OWWA and PAO for conducting the pioneering agri-business seminar on mushroom production for Filipinos in Korea, citing that the combined lecture and actual farm exposure greatly helped them understand the requirements for operating a mushroom farm and use technology for increasing agricultural yield and profitability.

Under the Reintegration Preparedness Program, the Embassy also conducts continuing Livelihood Skills Training, Financial Literacy and Education, Investment, and Entrepreneurship Development Seminars to help prepare the OFWs in Korea for their orderly and productive return and reintegration. For schedule of activities, please contact POLO OWWA at 822-37853634/5. END