Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Bro. John Castriciones yesterday turned over two coconut post-harvest facilities worth P2.8 million to farmers belonging to the Linabu Agrarian Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAMPCO) in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

Implemented through the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement Growth and Empowerment or Project ConVERGE, a foreign-assisted project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the provision of the post-harvest facilities will benefit 312 coconut farmers responsible for the cultivation of around 1,500 hectares in the area.

“These facilities were provided to enhance the support being given to them so that they will be able to continue and improve more the quality and be at par with the goods that are being sold in the international market,” Brother John said.

Brother John said the two post-harvest facilities will be utilized for the coco sugar trading, marketing enterprise, and processing of coconut into coco sugar by the farmer-members of LAMPCO.

“Because of the success of the coco enterprise of LAMPCO, these facilities were provided to continue to uplift the lives of local coconut farmers and its employees,” Brother John said.

Faisar Mambuay, National Project Manager of Project ConVERGE said the two facilities measures 80 square meters.

“One building will be used solely for the processing of coco sugar. The other building will be used for packaging and stocking of the packaged products,” Mambuay said.

Organized in 1997, LAMPCO started as a microfinancing cooperative. It was composed of 140 members from the community who were looking for ways to help support each other.

But like many startup enterprises, its beginnings were beset by financial and management challenges. Soon it overcame the initial challenges and saw the potential of coconuts, which is the main source of livelihood in the community. Many members of the cooperative were copra producers.

Its shift to coco sugar production was not an easy path for the cooperative. But with the help of the DAR and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the organization was able to convince its members of the potential of coconut sugar.

With coconut sugar as its main product, LAMPCO slowly and steadily created a sustainable enterprise to support its members and its community.

Today, LAMPCO is a leading manufacturer of coconut sugar in the country.

Nagkaloob kamakailan ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), sa pangunguna ni Secretary Bro. John Castriciones, ng dalawang pasilidad na nagkakahalaga ng P2.8 milyon sa Linabu Agrarian Multi-purpose Cooperative (LAMPCO) sa Balingasag, Misamis Oriental.

Ang proyekto na naipatupad sa pamamagitan ng Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement Growth and Empowerment o Project ConVERGE, isang proyekto na pinondohan ng International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), kung saan may 312 magsasaka na naglilinang ng halos 1,500 ektaryang sakahan ng niyog ang makikinabang sa mga pasilidad.

"Ang mga pasilidad na ito ay ibinigay upang mapagbuti ang suportang ibinibigay sa kanila, at upang sila ay makapagpatuloy at marahil ay maiangat at maging kapantay ang kalidad sa mga kalakal na ibinebenta sa pandaigdigang merkado," sabi ni Brother John.

Sinabi ni Brother John na ang dalawang pasilidad ay gagamitin para sa coco sugar trading, marketing enterprise at pagproseso ng niyog upang maging coco sugar ng mga magsasakang kasapi sa LAMPCO.

"Dahil sa tagumpay ng coco enterprise ng LAMPCO, ang mga pasilidad na ito ay ibinigay upang patuloy na maiangat ang buhay ng mga lokal na magsasaka ng niyog at mga empleyado nito," sabi ni Brother John.

Sinabi ni Faisar Mambuay, National Project Manager ng Project ConVERGE na ang dalawang pasilidad ay may sukat na 80 metro kwadrado.

"Ang isang gusali ay gagamitin lamang para sa pagproseso ng coco sugar. Ang isa naman ay gagamitin para sa pag-eempake ng coco sugar at magsisilbi ring imbakan ng mga produkto,” sabi ni Mambuay.

Na-organisa noong 1997, nagsimula ang LAMPCO bilang isang kooperatiba sa microfinancing. Ito ay binubuo ng 140 miyembro mula sa komunidad na naghahanap ng mga paraan upang makatulong na suportahan ang bawat isa.

Ngunit tulad ng maraming nag-uumpisa sa negosyo, ito ay humarap sa maraming pagsubok.

Di nagtagal ay nalampasan nila ito at kanilang nakita ang potensyal ng niyog, na siyang pangunahing pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan sa komunidad. Karamihan sa mga miyembro ng kooperatiba ay nagko-kopra.

Ang kanilang desisyon na lumipat sa paggawa ng coco sugar ay hindi naging madali para sa kooperatiba. Ngunit sa tulong ng DAR at ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), nakumbinsi ang mga miyembro ng samahan sa potensyal ng coco sugar

Gamit ang coco sugar bilang pangunahing produkto nito, ang LAMPCO ay umunlad at patuloy na sumusuporta sa mga miyembro nito at sa pamayanan na kanilang kinabibilangan.

Ngayon, ang LAMPCO ay nangungunang tagagawa ng coco sugar sa bansa.