DAR, DTI Groom Natividad ARBO Enterprise for FDA

The Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Trade and Industry travel to Natividad, Pangasinan for a consultation meeting with officers and members of agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) Calapugan Agrarian Reform Cooperative.

Members of the farmer group process locally-sourced cassava into cassava chips and cassava cake, and the two departments have agreed  to support the ARBO enterprise.

Calapugan ARC, which has 94 members, is a targeted beneficiary of DAR's Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED)        project for 2021. The combined cost for capacity development and enhancement of the processing center is at P670,000.00.

The VLFED upgrades product development, enhances managerial skills of ARBO leaders, and helps ARBOs secure the Food and Drugs Administration License to Operate (FDA-LTO) for their business. Previous beneficiaries of VLFED have become successful enterprises with the help of not just DAR and DTI, but with the resources of DOST and concerned LGUs as well. (ZA/ARPT) (Photos from DCT/ARPOI)