By Joan Dapidap, RPCO1 Writer

A Php 33.4 million tomato cold storage, funded by the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was turned over on Monday, July 29.

This facility is the first operational cold storage in the Ilocos Region under PRDP.

“Ito po iyong unang cold storage na nag-operate. Huwag po sana natin itong i-down. Dito po mangongopya ang ibang FCAs and other funding institutions kung ito po ay mapapagana natin o hindi,” said Deputy Project Director Dennis I. Tactac. 

(This is the first cold storage to operate. Hope we don’t let it down. This is where other FCAs and other funding institutions will reference to if we will be able to work it out or not.)

The said storage will be under the management of the San Joaquin Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SJMPC) in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. 

“Isang taon po natin itong hinintay, and finally andito na po ang inauguration and turn-over. Sana po pag-ingatan natin iyong project natin at hindi po itong magiging reason for conflict,” stated Project Director Annie Q. Bares adding that with proper coordination and management, the cooperative can succeed in handling the facility with its more than 7000 members. 

(We have waited for a year, and finally the inauguration and turn-over is here. Hope we take good care of the project and this won’t be a reason for conflict.)

The facility has a capacity of over 100 metric tons. Currently, farmers in Sarrat alone cannot meet the expected volume. However, with more than 7,000 cooperative members across Ilocos Norte, the target production volume is anticipated to be achieved. 

“The Local Government Unit of Sarrat have been encouraging a lot farmers to plant tomato. We have been clustering the agricultural sector upang hikayatin sila na magtanim ng tomato. Kasi sayang ang ating facility kung hindi natin ma-maximize iyong capacity. Sana mahalin niyo ito,” said Sarrat Mayor Remigio B. Medrano. 

(The LGU of Sarrat have been encouraging a lot of farmers to plant tomato. We have been clustering the agricultural sector to promote tomato cultivation. It would be a significant loss if we fail to maximize the facility’s capacity. Hope you will appreciate its value.)

In the coming years, the DA, PRDP, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, and LGU  Sarrat must continue to monitor and support the SJMPC’s operations.

“There will be a challenge here. Hindi po ibig sabihin na kapag linagay niyo iyong commodity doon sa loob ay aabutin na ito ng ilang buwan o buong taon. Meron ding shelf life iyong commodity. Hindi natin pwedeng  ilagay ng more than two months kung yung commodity ay hindi tatagal ng ganun,” reminded Medrano to the cooperative. “Napakainam na dapat yung control system ng refrigeration system of the cold storage functions is in accordance with the type of commodity that will be put inside this cold storage area.”

(There will be a challenge here. It doesn’t mean that when you store the commodity, it can last for a few months or a year. The commodity also has a shelf life. We cannot store the commodity for more than two months if it doesn’t have the capacity to last for that long.)

(It would be ideal if the control system of the refrigeration system of the cold storage functions is in accordance with the type of commodity that will be put inside this cold storage area.)

Aside from the turned-over facility, the subproject also comes with a trading capital amounting to Php1M and 512 pieces plastic crates to support the cooperative’s marketing activities. 

“The cold storage is not a long-term solution. Most importantly po ay ang marketing natin. Bago pa tayo magtatanim, alam na natin kung sinong bibili at ano ang presyo,” said Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc. 

(The cold storage is not a long-term solution. Most importantly is the marketing. Before we plant, we should already know who will buy and what is the price.)

For its first year of operation, 50 contract grower members of the SJMPC is expected to have a 212% increase in annual income for two planting seasons. 

“Let us be market driven para lalaki ang kita ng ating mga mannalon at coop. Let’s make sure po na this will succeed and something we can be proud of and ultimately, malaki ang benepisyo sa ating mannalon. This will be something we can benchmark and replicate across the province,” added Manotoc.

(Let us be market driven so that our farmers and this cooperative will have a bigger income. Let’s make sure that this will succeed and become something that we can be proud of and ultimately, provide a significant benefit to our farmers. This will be something we can benchmark and replicate across the province.)