ILOILO – The municipalities of Janiuay and San Enrique in Iloilo show great potential in promoting livelihood projects in their communities.
The Tuburan Abacca Handicraft Association (TAHA) of Janiuay, Iloilo, and Agutayan Cubay Agrarian Reform Cooperative (ACARCO) of San Enrique are beneficiaries of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under its Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Through the program, the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries can increase their household income. However, there are limitations on the support to agricultural productivity to surge the farm’s income.
DAR tapped the Department of Science and Technology Region VI (DOST-6) to support the technical needs of these communities through the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program.
With the booming status of abaca in Janiuay, the association produces fiber crafts like mats, purses, bags, placemats, high-grade decorative paper as art media, and all-purpose decorative. Moreover, the association has a high demand for abaca products with natural dye, resulting in sustainable income for its members and increasing market opportunities.
However, the association faces challenges in acquiring techniques in weaving, and their abaca fiber production operations are done manually.
To address the concerns, the CEST program assisted TAHA by providing additional tools as well as training and seminars.
Moreover, it will be provided with dyeing vats and molders to improve their products’ quality.
On the other hand, ACARCO produced meat products such as chorizo, tocino, and siomai as there is enough pork supply from their hog-raising activity and the encouraging market acceptability. Members and officials of the association are also aware of the food safety set by the Food and Drug Administration.
The assistance focused on improving process and product quality and setting up a processing facility following food safety standards.
Recently, training on Food Safety and cGMP was conducted to build a foundation of knowledge and skills needed for the operation of their new meat processing facility.
To give awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle, members of the association, especially the mothers in Janiuay and San Enrique, Iloilo, will be oriented on DOST’s Pinggang Pinoy and Seminar on Meal Planning.
Recently, members of the ACARCO benefited from the DOST’s FNRI Pinggang Pinoy and Seminar on Meal Management with 30 participants.(DOST-6)
