KABAYAN, BENGUET – Four farmer groups received farm inputs, supplies and materials under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP)’s I-REAP (Enterprise Development) component in a ceremony held last November 29, 2017.

To augment the losses incurred in their farm lands caused by typhoons, farmer groups have proposed micro enterprise subprojects (formerly small livelihood projects) under the PRDP.

Among the farmer groups who received goods for their micro enterprise subprojects were: Gusaran Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Eddet Farmers Indigenous Peoples Association, Bashoy Farmers Consumers Cooperative, and Ikolos Farmers Association.

For their micro enterprise subproject on vegetable production and marketing, Gusaran MPC received supplies and materials for the establishment of greenhouses. These include 30 rolls of polyethelene film, 360 pcs GI pipes, and wires and nails amounting to P950, 800.00. As per business plan, each member will be given supplies for the establishment of one greenhouse in a 720 sq. m. lot.

Still on vegetable production and marketing enterprise, the Ikolos Farmers Association also received supplies for the establishment of plastic tunnel and farm equipment amounting to P251, 000.00. These include five units power sprayer, three units grass cutter, two units garden shredder, six units hand tractor, 30 units plastic drums, and 30 units knapsack sprayer.

Moreover, Eddet Farmers Indigenous Peoples Associations received 100 heads of upgraded piglet, feeds (starter and grower), and packaging materials with a total cost amounting to P531, 000.00 for their micro enterprise on hog raising and “kinuday” meat processing.

Bashoy Farmers Consumers Cooperative on the other hand will also receive 50 heads of upgraded piglet, feeds (starter, grower and finisher), and pigpens worth P351, 000.00 for their micro enterprise on swine raising.

To date, most of the said goods were already delivered to the proponent groups.

To sustain the micro enterprise subprojects, the total investment costs shall be collected from each recipient/ beneficiary aside from the capital build-up for their respective association/ cooperatives to purchase for new stocks and supplies for the other members. (Elvy Taquio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE)