The operation of the Potato Tuberlets Production and Marketing Enterprise of the SRT La Trinidad Cooperative of Benguet is expected to be in full swing, with the completion of their P4.1-million worth greenhouse with storage officially turned over on Jan. 11.
Implemented under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and the local government of La Trinidad, the enterprise aims to produce clean and quality potato planting materials and make it accessible to farmers.
La Trinidad Mayor Romeo K. Salda said farmers need not to rely on imported potato planting materials because of the development of these facilities.
“Once you start operating your business, your focus should not solely be on the financial aspect but the quality service that you are going to give to the beneficiaries,” he said.
Salda also commended everyone who took part in the completion of the subproject.
DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office-CAR (RPCO-CAR) I-REAP Component Head Jocelyn W. Beray also expressed her compliments to the LGU and SRT La Trinidad Cooperative of Benguet for their efforts, patience, and sacrifices, which led to the completion of the enterprise subproject.
She emphasized the importance of partnership with key stakeholders in achieving the ultimate goal of their enterprise, saying the DA has several other programs and services the cooperative can avail of.
Engr. Gaston B. Cael, DA-PRDP RPCO-CAR I-BUILD component head, also challenged the cooperative to review their business plan, as they are now going to fully operate their enterprise subproject.
“You carefully planned for this enterprise subproject, you developed your business plan, and the challenge now is for you to reach your objectives in actual,” Cael said.
On behalf of the cooperative, Board of Directors chair Freddie Langpaoen expressed his gratefulness to the DA-PRDP, LGU, contractor, and members of the cooperative for their contributions from the preparation stage up to the approval and implementation.
He also thanked the Northern Philippine Root Crops Research and Training Center (NPRCRTC) of the Benguet State University (BSU) for providing the necessary technical assistance for the enterprise.
“We will strive to implement this enterprise for it to flourish and ultimately benefit everyone,” said Langpaoen.
Aside from the greenhouse, several farm equipment, supplies, a delivery truck, and a working capital were turned over to the cooperative in March 2021.
The cooperative also entered into an agreement with the BSU-NPRCRTC for a technology transfer project on the propagation of quality planting materials.
The P12.28-M worth Potato Tuberlets Production and Marketing Enterprise subproject of the SRT Cooperative is shared by the World Bank (60 percent loan proceeds), the national government through the DA (20 percent), the municipal government (20 percent), and another 20 percent proponent group equity (in cash/kind). – Elvy T. Estacio
April 27, 2024
