DTI gives machines to more farmer groups

CEBU, Philippines - In line with its aim to enhance production of desiccated coconut and coconut charcoal, the Department of Trade and Industry-7 has turned over manufacturing machines to two farmer organizations in Aloguinsan town.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said the turning over of the machines promotes the shared service facility  for technology upgrading of agri-based products of DTI. This is also to make use of coconut, not just as raw material for copra but also for other products like virgin coconut oil and charcoal, she said.

The Kahugpongan sa Mga Mag-uuma sa Poblacion Aloguinsan of barangay Poblacion and San Roque Farmers Association of Barangay Borbon each received one desiccated dryer machine, one deshelling machine, one chopping/grinding machine, one briquetting machine and a set of carbonizing drums.

The machines, which are worth at least P1 million, were provided to increase the farmers' production of desiccated coconut, raw material for virgin coconut oil, and coconut charcoal for local use and export (for water purification) by 10 to 15 percent, according to DTI.

The Southern Partners and Fair Trade Center, Inc.  will then buy out all of the products from the farmers.

Prior to the turnover, the DTI representatives and the farmers' organization signed a memorandum of agreement for the care of the machines. This was witnessed by other farmers and local officials of the town led by Mayor Cynthia Moreno.

With the new SSF facility in Barangay Borbon, it is expected to generate 264 jobs for the local farmers. SRFA currently has 560 members.

The same number of farmers will also be employed among the KMA farmers which organization now has 368 members.

Roly Labradores, development worker of SPFTC, said every month the demand in the international market for VCO is between 10 to 20 40-footer vans. Each van contains 24 metric tons of oil. This is also the same amount which is in demand for coconut charcoal, said Labradores.

However, the local farmers cannot cope with the demand because of the low production which is why they came up with the technological upgrade with the DTI.

"The market is waiting for them," Labradores said, adding that once the program is sustained, local farmers will earn substantially from the project.

Aloguinsan is the fourth area that DTI has provided technological machines to coconut farmers in the province. The other three were Carcar City, Carmen and Argao.  (FREEMAN)