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Showing posts with label dost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dost. Show all posts

Thursday, August 14, 2025

SOWESFACO: How Solana’s West-Side Farmers Turned Grit into Growth

If you drive west from Tuguegarao and roll into Solana, Cagayan, you’ll find a patchwork of rice fields,  corn plots, and backyard fruit trees stitched together by one quiet powerhouse: SOWESFACO, short for Solana West Farmers Cooperative. It’s the kind of cooperative that starts as a conversation under a mango tree and ends up changing how families send kids to school, how fields get planted on time, and how a whole community thinks about the future.

From “tingi-tingi” to teamwork. SOWESFACO began with a simple problem: farmers selling produce piecemeal, paying high middleman rates, and struggling to buy inputs when they actually needed them. The cooperative model flipped the script. By pooling purchasing power, members started getting fairer prices for fertilizer and seed; by bulking their harvests, they negotiated better farmgate rates. What used to be “kanya-kanya” (everyone for themselves) became a steady rhythm of shared calendars, shared logistics, and shared wins.

What SOWESFACO actually does (and why it works):

*Consolidated input buying: Members pre-book fertilizer, seeds, and fuel at wholesale rates, cutting costs and reducing last-minute scramble.

*Mechanization services: A small fleet—think hand tractors, transplanters, threshers, and a combine harvester schedule—reduces labor bottlenecks and keeps planting/harvest windows on track.

*Post-harvest handling: Clean, dry, store, and sell—SOWESFACO’s drying and storage capacity keeps moisture levels in check and quality consistent, which means better prices and fewer rejections.

*Market matching: Instead of hoping buyers swing by, the coop lines up deliveries to institutional buyers, rice traders, and local retailers, smoothing out cash flow.

*Financial services: The cooperative runs a modest savings-and-loan window for members, with seasonal repayment cycles aligned to harvests. That “cash when you plant” and “pay when you harvest” timing is a game-changer.

Real-life ripple effects

*Income that stretches: Lower input costs plus better selling prices mean the same hectare now pays for school fees, medical checkups, and a little cushion for emergencies.

*Time back to families: With mechanization and coordinated workdays, members spend less time chasing labor and more time at home or tending to side ventures (banana, mungbean, or free-range poultry).

*Skills on the rise: Regular trainings—on financial literacy, climate-smart farming, and basic enterprise management—have turned once-hesitant members into confident planners who can read a balance sheet and a weather map.

*Youth not leaving (as much): The coop’s small scholarships, digital record-keeping, and agri-entrepreneurship clubs make farming feel less like a dead end and more like a viable business. You still hear the lure of the city, sure, but you also see motorbikes loaded with produce, barcode labels on sacks, and teens learning spreadsheets for inventory.

Community wins you can see

*Local food security: When typhoons complicate supply chains, SOWESFACO’s stock and storage capacity stabilize rice and corn supply for nearby barangays.

*Micro-enterprises spun off: A side hustle in rice retailing, local milling partnerships, and snack-making (corn chips, banana cue packaging) gives non-farm family members income streams.

*Women in leadership: From credit committees to quality control, women call shots that keep the coop honest and the books clean. It’s practical and powerful.

*Shared infrastructure care:  Because the coop depends on passable roads and working irrigation, it champions community cleanups, drainage unclogging, and watchdogging repairs after storms.

The secret sauce: partnerships and government support

SOWESFACO’s story isn’t solo. It’s a braid of farmer grit and developmental interventions from agencies that bet on organized groups:

*Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR):

-ARBO development & capacity building, cooperative governance, bookkeeping, and enterprise planning sharpened SOWESFACO’s systems.

 -Common service facilities & enterprise grants, support for dryers, small warehouses, and packaging tools tightened quality control and cut losses.

 -Market linkage under programs like PAHP, connecting to institutional buyers turned once-sporadic sales into scheduled deliveries.

*Department of Agriculture (DA) & RFO II:

-RCEF mechanization & training, access to equipment and farmer field schools boosted yields and timeliness of operations.

 -Seeds and soil health interventions, certified seed distribution and soil testing improved input efficiency and resilience against pests and drought spells.

 -Farm-to-market coordination, aligning calendars with logistics support means fewer delays from field to buyer.

*DTI (Department of Trade and Industry):

-Shared Service Facilities (SSF) and product development, better packaging, labeling, and quality standards helped SOWESFACO sell beyond the barangay.

 -Mentoring on costing and pricing, so members finally price products with margin, not guesswork.

*DOST (Department of Science and Technology):

-SETUP-style upgrades, moisture meters, testing kits, and layout improvements reduce post-harvest loss and ensure consistent quality.

 -Food safety advisories, for rice retailing and value-added products, helping the coop comply with standards.

*LGU Solana & the Province of Cagayan:

-Local grants, business permits streamlining, and data sharing, faster paperwork, better access to municipal cold rooms or multipurpose halls, and inclusion in trade fairs.

 -Disaster prep & recovery support, pre-positioning tarps, fuel, and drying solutions when typhoons loom.

*Financing partners (e.g., LANDBANK, ACPC-linked conduits, microfinance):

-Working capital and equipment loans, structured repayment aligned to crop cycles keeps operations moving without predatory interest.

*Financial literacy tie-ins, coaching on cash flow and risk management reduces default and teaches members to plan ahead.

Climate smarts, because Cagayan knows weather.

SOWESFACO takes typhoons seriously. Members track weather advisories, adjust planting windows, and keep emergency tarps and fuel. The coop also keeps a contingency fund for quick repairs on dryers and roofs after storms.

Digital steps without the tech headache.

Nothing flashy, just practical. The coop uses phone-based group chats for machine scheduling, a simple spreadsheet (and later, a cloud sheet) for inventory and loan tracking. In June 2025, SOWESFACO was named among nine cooperatives to benefit from the Digital Farmers Program (DFP) under F2C2—an initiative by ATI-RTC II, DA-RFO 2, PLDT, and Smart. This aims to improve digital literacy and access to modern technologies.

Governance that people trust.

Transparent books. Posted price boards. Regular general assemblies with “mystery math” explained plainly (what came in, what went out, what’s next). Election rules that actually get followed. These little, boring disciplines are the reason big, exciting things keep happening.

What’s next.

*Expanded storage and solar-assisted drying to reduce moisture-related losses during the wet months.

*Contract growing for value chains (feed corn, specialty rice varieties) with guaranteed offtake and quality premiums.

*Youth incubators for agri-digital services, inventory apps, drone mapping partners, and e-commerce pilots for milled rice and snacks.

*Insurance mainstreaming so every member is covered for weather and price shocks, not just the few who remember the paperwork.

The bottom line.

SOWESFACO shows what happens when farmers organize well, match that discipline with the right equipment and training, and plug into a web of supportive programs. The result isn’t just bigger harvests—it’s steadier income, sturdier families, and a community that can look a typhoon in the eye and say, “We’ve planned for this.” In Solana, that’s not a slogan. It’s Tuesday. In other words, SOWESFACO’s achievements, resilience, cooperation, and preparedness, aren’t just special events they put on a poster; they’re part of the routine, as normal as a Tuesday in the calendar.

 

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Cagayan PARCCOM-PCIT to accelerate CARP implementation and monitor flagship projects

      The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial Office of Cagayan-Batanes kick started the year with a joint Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) and Provincial CARP Implementing Team (PCIT) meeting on January 26, 2018 in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan wherein the representatives of the member-agencies presented their agency thrusts in so far as CARP implementation is concerned.
     The National Irrigation Adminstration (NIA) reported on current irrigation projects in Cagayan and on the P2.696-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, an electric motor pump driven irrigation which will service 8,700 hectares of agricultural land benefitting 4,350 farmers in 21 barangays in Cagayan, Kalinga and Apayao. The project is expected to provide an incremental net income of up to P42,273 per hectare a year from the farmers’ previous P28, 952 per hectare annual income without the irrigation. It will be able to provide around 7,580 jobs during the implementation period and around 8,700 people will have permanent jobs when completed and becomes operation in three years. 
      The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) introduced new technologies on fertilizer production made from carrageenan, a substance extracted from red and purple seaweeds abundant along the coastal town in Cagayan province, consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides. It is traditionally used as a thickening or emulsifying agent in food products. Carrageenan as a growth enhancer offers an array of benefits that result in improved productivity. When used properly, it makes the rice stem stronger improving rice resistance to logging. It becomes resistant to rice ‘tungro’ virus and bacterial leaf blight resulting to increased harvest by farmers. 
      The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also presented the various ongoing activities for promotion and marketing of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ products the Shared Service Faciities (SSF) being distributed to qualified farmers' organizations. 
       The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Register of Deeds (ROD) also reported on their activities for the acquisition and distribution of lands covered by CARP, among many others. One highlight of the meeting is the joint efforts of the member-agencies which resulted to the resolution of specific legal and factual issues facilitating the acquisition of the hundreds of hectares of farmlands located in the Solana-Piat boundary. Other equally important issues and concerns on CARP implementation were likewise resolved during the meeting.      Representatives from KilusangPagbabago,  namely, Mr. Nathaniel Gumangan, Public Relations Officer, KP-Cagayan Valley and Mr. Napoleon Baltazar, Program Director, KP-Cagayan Valley also briefly discussed Malacanang Executive Order No. 9, Series of 2016 regarding the mandate to promote Participatory Governance as a way of empowering the agrarian reform beneficiaries and other farmers among others. In addition, the role of the Kilusang Pagbabago in monitoring government programs and projects was also emphasized. 
    The Joint PARCCOM-PCIT is pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 406 that mandates certain departments and agencies to review, evaluate and align their programs and projects in order to integrate them into the major thrusts of the CARP.  EO No. 406 also directs the DAR to accelerate the agrarian reform beneficiaries' development through the provision of economic and social infrastructure support.
      Section 44 and Section 45 of RA 6657 mandated the creation of a Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) in each province, composed of a Chairman, who shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the EXCOM, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer as Executive Officer, and one representative each from the Departments of Agriculture, and of Environment and Natural Resources and from the LBP, one representative each from existing farmers’ organizations, agricultural cooperatives and non-governmental organizations in the province; two representatives from landowners, at least one of whom shall be a producer representing the principal crop of the province, and two representatives from farmer and farmworker-beneficiaries, at least one of whom shall be a farmer or farmworker representing the principal crop of the province, as members: provided, that in areas where there are cultural communities, the latter shall likewise have one representative.
      The PARCCOM shall coordinate and monitor the implementation of the CARP in the province. It shall provide information on the provisions of the CARP, guidelines issued by the PARC and on the progress of the CARP in the province.
      The PARCCOM is the provincial counterpart of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) Executive Committee (ExCom) and the partners of the PARC Secretariat. The PARC is the highest policy-making body in implementing agrarian reform laws. The PARCOMM are tasked with the coordination and monitoring of the programs and activities implemented by the agrarian reform program implementing agencies at the field level.

DARPO Cagayan-Batanes PARO II Engr. Arthur Faeldon addressing the members of the PARCCOM-PCIT.
DENR-PENRO reporting on their agency's thrusts and programs under CARP.
Open forum on the member-agencies 2018 thrusts and programs

The Register of Deeds addressing issues pertaining to registration of land titles and deeds.
Representatives from the Kilusang Pagbabago-Cagayan Valley discussed matters on Participatory Governance.
Activities in the Cooperative Sector were presented with more requests for support services facilities being considered. 
New technology on the production of Carrageenan based soil enhancer by DENR
Presentation on the concerns of private sector representatives










Saturday, July 27, 2013

Outstanding DOST-SETUP beneficiaries awarded at NST Week celebration


Carne Ybanag of Lighthouse Cooperative is Region 02 awardee

SMX Convention Center, Manila. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) spearheaded the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia with a week-long exhibit, from July 23 to 27 (Tuesday to Saturday), 2013. Dubbed as ExpoScience 2013, it showcases the latest innovations and inventions of Filipino scientists and engineers, etc.
Senator Loren Legarda led the tour of the exhibition booths after the opening program. 
     The exhibit highlighted DOST technologies such as the Advanced MaterialsLaboratory (ADMATEL), a testing facility for semiconductors; the AutomatedGuideway Transit (AGT), an alternative transportation now being used at UP-Diliman; the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH which is DOST’s  response for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines; DOST’s Certified Seed Production program for improved agricultural productivity; and the other ICT-driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive, and many others. It also featured the ceremonial switching of Project NOAH’s 1,000 sensors expected to be installed within the year. Also featured was DOSTv, a web channel that provides 24/7 information on the weather.
     The Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) Forum was conducted on the second day of the NSTW celebration wherein sixteen (16) business firms/ SETUP beneficiaries were awarded as Outstanding SETUP Adopters: Tartland Baguio Pasarabo (CAR); Maglaya’s Woodcraft (Region I); Carne Ybanag-LighthouseCooperative (Region II); Amanda’s Marine Products (Region III); MFP Home of Quality Food Corporation (NCR); Farmtec Foods, Inc. (Region IV-A); Mindoro Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Region IV-B); Belen’s Pinahamis Na Pili, Atbp. (Region V); Trappist Monastic Food Products (Region VI); Total Woodcraft (Region VII); TAP’s Handmade Products (Region VIII); Woodtech Builders (Region IX); Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (Region X); Rosario’s Fruit Stop (Region XI); Rafols Machine Shop and Engineering Services (Region XII); and Marjeck Food Products (CARAGA). Farmtech Foods, Inc. later received an award as the National Level Best SETUP Adopter.
     The DOST-SETUP is a banner program of the Department of Science and Technology. It is a nationwide strategy to  motivate, encourage and assist Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in improving their productivity and competitiveness  through the technology interventions like provision of the cost of equipment through Innovative System Support (ISS), technology trainings, product development, plant lay-out, equipment design with training for its utilization, laboratory tests of products, packaging and labelling, trainings on  Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), 5S, Hazard, Analytical, Critical and Control Point (HACCP), Energy Audit, Cleaner Production Technology (CPT), consultancy services through Manufacturing Productivity Extension (MPEX),  Consultancy on Agricultural Productivity Enhancement  (CAPE) and product promotion thru S&T Fairs, product flyers  and website development.
     For the last ten years of the program, it has generated over Php73 billion in sales, generated nearly 44,000 jobs, penetrated over 2,000 new markets and has Php0.5 billion fund for this year.  It is collateral-free, zero interest and proposal-driven funding that is payable to the DOST within a period of three (3) years. by:christiandsales

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

DOST, DAR, DA, et. al., sign Convergence MOU


SMX Convention Center. On the occasion of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, the cabinet secretaries (and  undersecretaries) from the Departmentof Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Departmentof Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) met and signed today a Convergence Memorandum of Understanding on Community-Based Sustainable Livelihood and Development Enterprises in the Countryside.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Convergence would move together the agencies involved and unite their efforts and activities with DOST to provide a combination of multiple services, programs, projects, technologies, and provide access to other developmental interventions that will promote sustainable development and access to programs such as DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP), among others. The DOST SET-UP is a more focused program of assistance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SET-UP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist SMEs to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness.           This is of special interest to the DAR's agrarian reform communities (ARCs) project where agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) are transforming themselves into being farmer-entrepreneurs and agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) are now engaging into economies of scale through modernization under the DAR-ARCCESS program and the block sugar farming, among others. 
            This year’s NSTW theme is “Science, Technology and Innovation: The Road to a Smarter Philippines,” emphasizes the role of science and technology in improving the peoples’ future through DOST’s projects and services that will further socio-economic development through DOST’s technologies such as the Advance Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL) which is the testing facility for the nation’s semiconductor industry; Automated GuidewayTransit (AGT) system (currently in use at UP-Diliman), an alternative transportation system; PROJECT NOAH as a tool to address climate change; DOST’s Certified Seed Production Program for the agricultural sector;  and other Internet Communication Technology (ICT) driven tools to make the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry more competitive.
The NSTW runs from July 23-27, 2013 (Tuesday until Saturday) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City and will showcase the latest innovations, interventions and inventions of Filipino scientists, engineers and various works by the entire scientific community. /christiandsales


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