ABRA DE ILOG, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO – The enterprise development (I-REAP) component of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was recently in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro to conduct a Business Planning Writeshop for the municipality’s proposed cassava enterprise.

The Municipal Agriculture Office of Abra De Ilog, headed by the Municipal Agriculturist, Julius Judelito Amodia, together with the members of the enterprise’s proponent group, the Armado-Cabacao Farmers’ Cooperative, were the primary attendees of the activity.

The I-REAP technical staff from PRDP South Luzon cluster and MIMAROPA regional office facilitated the entire writeshop that mainly focuses on assisting the proponent group in drafting the financial aspect of the business that they are proposing and provides input to the group’s organizational development.

Cassava is one of the top agricultural commodities in the western part of Mindoro Island and considered as a staple food of the Mangyan Tribes in the upland areas.

There are 46 cassava varieties in the Philippines, 21 of which are grown in Occidental Mindoro. These are either sold at the local market for consumption or used for industrial purposes. Other than cassava by-products such as chips, flour or starch, a large portion of cassava harvest is also being processed into animal feeds.

The planting season for cassava starts from the month of June in Occidental Mindoro, before the start of the rainy season. Abra De Ilog has the most number of cassava farmer-growers in the province among other municipalities.

Through the assistance of PRDP, the association’s initial plan is to produce cassava starch which they aim to achieve by establishing a complete processing facility that will be able to produce high-quality products.

With this, the group’s income will increase which will further improve the socio-economic status of their members.

The I-REAP is the component of the PRDP that strengthens and develops viable agriculture and fishery-based enterprises in different municipalities and provinces. Through efficient value chains of key agricultural and fishery products, they are able to develop subprojects for the benefit of the country’s local farmers and fisherfolk. ### (Leira Vic Colongon, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

DA MIMAROPA Corn Coordinator Christine Inting (third from right) joins the PRDP I-REAP team during the Business Planning Writeshop in Abra De Ilog, Occidental Mindoro to meet with the Armado-Cabacao Farmers’ Cooperative and talk to them advice about their planned enterprise.

PSO South Luzon cluster Business Development Officer, Jandhe Reyes, presents the final output of the Business Planning Writeshop to the members of the Armado-Cabacao Farmers’ Cooperative and Abra De Ilog Municipal Agriculture Office.