A total of eighty-two (82) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are members of the Abejed Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AMPC) in Tugop, San Fernando, Bukidnon, received a P1.5 million worth of bamboo stick-making machine and equipment from the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Trade and Industry (DTI), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government unit (LGU) of San Fernando to capacitate the cooperative to profitably operate and manage their own farm business.
Mohammad Abdul Jabbar M. Pandapatan, DAR-Bukidnon Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II said the machine and equipment were provided under the DTI-CARP Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) Project.
Pandapatan said that aside from the machine and equipment, the DAR contributed P240,000 to enhance the shared service facility and conducted a series of bamboo-related capacity development training with partner agencies.
“DENR provided bamboo seedlings, inputs, and labor provision while the LGU of San Fernando provided construction materials for the facility,” he said.
Pandapatan said the launching and commissioning of the bamboo stick production facility are just the beginning of the support to be provided by the DAR to the AMPC as they embark on the challenging journey of ensuring sustainability and growth for their enterprise.
“They still need an all-weather dryer for the treated barbecue sticks. And we would like to assure them of the DAR and all its partner agencies’ continued support. We know that with the cooperative’s resiliency and determination, a promising future is just within their reach,” he said.
Purita S. Intes, Chairperson of the AMPC thanked the DAR and its partner agencies for the assistance given to the cooperative.
She recalled how as a small cooperative they have struggled financially just to procure the lot where the processing center was built.
“Through the cooperative’s commitment to pursue and transform the bamboo stick production into a business enterprise and with the support of the line agencies, we were able to turn that dream into a reality,’ she said.
The VLFED project aims to enhance the products of the ARBs using appropriate facilities and equipment applicable to the agri-business enterprise.
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Mga magsasaka sa Bukidnon tumanggap ng P1.5-M bamboo stick-making machine at equipment
May kabuuang walumpu’t dalawang (82) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) na mga miyembro ng Abejed Multi-Purpose Cooperative (AMPC) sa Tugop, San Fernando, Bukidnon, ang nakatanggap ng P1.5 milyong halaga ng bamboo stick-making machine at kagamitan mula sa Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Trade and Industry (DTI), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at local government unit (LGU) ng San Fernando para bigyang kapasidad ang kooperatiba na magpatakbo at mamahala ng kanilang sariling kumikitang negosyong sakahan.
Sinabi ni Mohammad Abdul Jabbar M. Pandapatan, DAR-Bukidnon Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II na ang makina at kagamitan ay ibinigay sa ilalim ng DTI-CARP Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) Project.
Ani Pandapatan bukod sa makina at kagamitan, nag-ambag din ang DAR ng P240,000 para maiayos ang shared service facility at nagsagawa ng serye ng bamboo-related capacity development training kasama ang mga partner agencies.
“Nagbigay ang DENR ng mga punla ng kawayan, input at labor provision habang ang LGU ng San Fernando ay nagbigay ng construction materials para sa pasilidad,” aniya.
Sinabi ng Pandapatan na ang paglulunsad at commissioning ng bamboo stick production facility ay simula lamang ng mga suporta na ipagkakaloob ng DAR sa AMPC sa kanilang pagsisimula sa mapanghamong paglalakbay upang matiyak ang napapanatiling paglago para sa kanilang negosyo.
“Kailangan pa rin nila ng all-weather dryer para sa treated barbecue sticks. At nais naming tiyakin sa kanila ang patuloy na suporta ng DAR at ng lahat ng mga ahensyang kasosyo nito. Alam namin na sa katatagan at determinasyon ng kooperatiba, ang isang magandang kinabukasan ay abot-kamay na nila,” aniya.
Pinasalamatan ni Purita S. Intes, Chairperson ng AMPC ang DAR at ang mga katuwang na ahensya nito sa tulong na ibinigay sa kooperatiba.
Naalala niya kung paano bilang isang maliit na kooperatiba, sila ay nahirapan sa pananalapi para lang makuha ang lote kung saan ginawa ang processing center.
“Sa pamamagitan ng determinasyon ng kooperatiba na ituloy at gawing negosyo ang produksyon ng bamboo stick at sa suporta ng mga line agencies, nagawa naming gawing realidad ang pangarap na ito,’ sabi niya.
Ang proyekto ng VLFED ay naglalayon na pahusayin ang mga produkto ng mga ARB gamit ang naaangkop na mga pasilidad at kagamitan para sa agri-business enterprise.
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