BULA, CAMARINES SUR —The cassava kropek production of the Sto. Nino Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SNMPC) would soon be able to increase and improve their production with the recent tie up of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Science and Technology Region (DOST), and the local government unit (LGU) of Bula.

The upgrading of SNMPC’s production capacity, according to Ricardo C. Garcia, DAR Camarines Sur Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, is part of the convergence program of DAR and DOST, which seek to meet the growing consumer demand and make the cooperative more competitive.

“This convergence initiative of DAR, DOST and the LGU of Bula will not only develop the quality of their cassava kropek, but it will also ensure a stable market for it,” Garcia said.

The project will be implemented over a three-year period, with one year dedicated to performance and two years for monitoring.

Garcia said the SNMPC, as the project's beneficiary, will receive a total of P335,110.00.

DOST will provide P289,610.00, while LGU Bula will give P30,000.00 and another P9,000.00 from DAR Camarines Sur 1. The SNMPC, on the other hand, has agreed to provide P6,500.00 to the project.

During the ceremonial check release, Municipal Councilor Nelly Largo commended the government agencies for choosing SNMPC as the project's beneficiary. She also reminded everyone of the obligations tied to the release of the funds.

Patrocinio G. Felizmenio, director of DOST Camarines Sur, expects the project to be a stepping stone to a larger effort and as sustainable as other DOST-supported projects.

Augusto S. Medina Jr., chief of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program, stressed that the DAR continues to collaborate with other line agencies to give viable businesses to agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) and agrarian reform beneficiaries.

He then challenged SNMPC to go the extra mile to become on par with other successful businesses.

SNMPC Chairperson Augusto G. Consorte assured that the funding will be utilized to improve the cassava kropek business and other products of the cooperative, such as mushroom food seasoning.

"We will do this not only for our cooperative, but for the entire community of Bula," he added.

Kropek is a cracker made from starch or animal skin added with flavoring, deep-fried, grilled or hot sand fried.

BULA, CAMARINES SUR —Inaasang tataas at mapabubuti ang produksyon ng cassava kropek ng Sto. Nino Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SNMPC) dito mataas makipag-tie-up ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sa Department of Science and Technology Region (DOST), at local government unit (LGU) ng Bula.

Ang pag-upgrade ng kapasidad ng produksyon ng SNMPC, ayon kay Ricardo C. Garcia, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer, ay bahagi ng convergence program ng DAR at DOST, na naglalayong matugunan ang tumataas na pangangailangan ng mga mamimili at gawing mas competitive ang kooperatiba.

“Ang convergence initiative ng DAR, DOST at ng LGU ng Bula ay hindi lamang magpapaunlad ng kalidad ng kanilang kropek na gawa sa kamoteng kahoy, ngunit ito rin ang magtitiyak ng matatag na pamilihan para dito,” ani Garcia.

Ang proyekto ay ipatutupad sa loob ng tatlong taon, na may isang taon na nakatuon sa pagpapatupad nito at dalawang taon para sa pagsubaybay.

Sinabi ni Garcia na ang SNMPC, bilang benepisyaryo ng proyekto, ay tatanggap ng kabuuang P335,110.00.

Ang DOST ay magbibigay ng P289,610.00, habang ang LGU Bula ay magbibigay ng P30,000.00 at isa pang P9,000.00 mula sa DAR Camarines Sur 1. Ang SMPC naman ay pumayag na magbigay ng P6,500.00 sa proyekto.

Sa pagkakaloob ng pondo, pinuri ni Municipal Councilor Nelly Largo ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa pagpili sa SMPC bilang benepisyaryo ng proyekto. Pinaalalahanan din niya ang lahat ng mga obligasyon na nauugnay sa paglabas ng mga pondo.

Inaasahan ni Patrocinio G. Felizmenio, direktor ng DOST Camarines Sur, na ang proyekto ay magiging paunang hakbang tungo sa mas malaking pagsisikap at kasing-tatag ng iba pang proyektong sinusuportahan ng DOST.

Binigyang-diin ni Augusto S. Medina Jr., hepe ng Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program, na ang DAR ay patuloy na nakikipag-tulungan sa iba pang mga line agencies para mabigyan ng negosyo ang mga kooperatiba at agrarian reform beneficiaries.

HInamon niya ang SMPC na magsikap upang maging kapantay ng iba pang matagumpay na negosyo.

Tiniyak ni SNMPC Chairperson Augusto G. Consorte na ang pondo ay gagamitin para mapabuti ang negosyong cassava kropek at iba pang produkto,ng kooperatiba tulad ng mushroom food seasoning.

“Gagawin natin ito hindi lamang para sa ating kooperatiba, kundi para sa buong komunidad ng Bula,” aniya.

Ang kropek ay isang cracker na gawa sa arina mulas sa bungang kahoy o balat ng hayop na dinagdagan ng pampalasa, pinirito sa mantika, iniihaw o pinirito sa mainit na buhangin.