Women’s group sees potential of kamias

THE women’s group Kilos Unlad ng Mamayan ng Real Inc. ( KUMARE) has seen the great potential of kamias (Averrhoa bilimbi Linn.) by turning the underutilized crop into an additional source of income.

Based in Real, Quezon, KUMARE was able to develop kamiasbased products like pickles, dried candies and juice, among others.

Commonly eaten raw or dipped in rock salt or dried to be used as a souring ingredient in cooking traditional Filipino dishes like paksiw or sinigang, kamias is also believed to have medicinal properties and is used as a treatment for itches or skin eruptions, rheumatism, swelling, or mumps.

With more than 2,000 active members in the municipalities of Real, Infanta, General Nakar, and Polilio, KUMARE was tapped by the Department of AgricultureQuezon Agricultural Research and Experiment Station (DA-QARES) for a program to commercialize kamias through the program entitled “Commercializing Kamias Production and Utilization for the Women Group KUMARE of Real, Quezon.” The project was funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP).

“Research progression on how to reduce the overutilization of primary crops by looking into the use of underutilized crops can be a good alternative and additional source of income. One promising crop, which is locally abun is kamias,” Dennis Bihis, project Pickles, dried candies and juice, among others, can be produced from leader, explained.

He said trials on propagation by seeds and trials using asexual propagation are being conducted. Trials were done since kamias is relatively harder to propagate and seeds do not readily germinate. To date, 5,000 seedlings were produced and 2,500 seedlings were distributed to members of interested clients for the establishment of kamias groves.

“Based on initial results, 90 percent success rate in propagating kamias through seeds [soaked in water for 15 minutes at room temperature] has been noted,” Bihis said.

Members of KUMARE have attended training on kamias pro product development spearheaded by DA-QARES. Existing products developed from kamias include soap, prunes, and candies. Trials are currently being conducted to assess the oxalic acid content of the fruits to be used as a bleaching or antibrowning agent.

Kamias soap and sinigang powder are now available in local markets and KUMARE’s business outlet in Real, Quezon. The market linkage has been made for the two products and will also be done for other products once these have been analyzed and packaged.

The group is looking into tapping the bustling tourist industry of the province and arrangements are being made to supply products to beach resorts, hotels and other tourist establishments.

Venturing into the production of soap, candy and prunes proved - vestment of 161 percent with a payback period of one year and seven months.