The SRT La Trinidad Cooperative of Benguet, the proponent group of an enterprise subproject under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), has partnered with Benguet State University for a technology transfer project on the propagation of quality planting materials.
The partnership, through BSU’s Northern Philippines Root Crops Research and Training Center, targets the transfer of at least 46,080 rooted stem cuttings to the SRT every month for 12 months that will be used for the production of potato tuberlets. This will be funded by the SRT cooperative through the working capital turned over to them for the implementation of their enterprise subproject.
“As part of the agreement, farmer-members of SRT La Trinidad Cooperative will also be trained on seed potato propagation and improved practices,” Palitog added.
Researchers and students from BSU will also be allowed to conduct instructional research, extension, and production studies on the status and development of the planting materials distributed to the farmer beneficiaries.
“The techno-transfer project will help us produce quality potato planting materials in support to our enterprise subproject on potato tuberlets production and marketing,” said SRT La Trinidad Coop Manager Marievic L. Palitog.
To date, SRT La Trinidad Cooperative of Benguet has already received the goods for their enterprise subproject, while the greenhouse component is yet to be completed.
PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office Business Development Officer Lorna E. Panyo said the enterprise subproject is expected to be in full operation once the construction of the greenhouse with storage and the installation of steel-elevated seed beds and steel cabinets are completed.
“Despite the stalled construction of the greenhouse due to compliance concerns, we are positive SRT Cooperative will be able to produce and distribute quality potato planting materials as per the main objective of their enterprise subproject,” Panyo said.
The P12.28-million worth Potato Tuberlets Production and Marketing Enterprise subproject is shared by the World Bank (60 percent loan proceeds), the national government through the DA (20 percent), the municipal government of La Trinidad (20 percent), and another 20 percent proponent group equity in cash/kind. – Elvy Taquio Estacio
