THE Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (Amad) and Benguet Heirloom Rice Farmer Agriculture Coop (BHRFAC) convened to review and assess the latter’s business plan on July 19 and 20, 2017 at the Eco Lodge, Baguio City.
Robert Cayanos, business plan expert who serve as the resource speaker during the activity congratulated the group for coming up with a good record among heirloom rice coops.
“2016 is past, it is a learning process and we don’t expect everything to be perfect, but still congratulations for having a good record,” he added.
BHRFAC is a Department of Agriculture-CAR assisted cooperative of heirloom rice farmers in Benguet, engaged in heirloom rice milling and marketing particularly from the mountains of Bakun, Kibungan and Kapangan.
Since its registration in June 2016, the cooperative officially started its operation.
The group originated from the Palina Organic Farmers Association and Ebe, Lipucan, Avas, Mayos Farmers Livelihood Association both in Kibungan, Benguet. It was later on expanded to the two nearby towns Kapangan and Kibungan who are also producer of heirloom rice.
Kapangan produces bayag, saba, kabal, kamporo, makanining, balatinaw, balatingi and bongkitan. Kibungan also produce lablabi, lasbacan, kabal, bongkitan and balatinaw while Bakun produce lablabi, kalipago, makanining, brando, balatinaw, bongkitan, dikalot, and mapili.
Jean Mayos, Agriculturist I of Amad said the review and assessment will help the cooperative in achieving its vision to become the leading producer and supplier of quality organic heirloom rice in the export and domestic markets.
“Since it is the first year of operation, it will help in identifying the problems in order to propose appropriate solutions, see where the cooperative have reached so far, to check if the Business Plan is being implemented and also, to assess its gains,” she added.
Generally, the assessment shows a positive result.
“In terms of finances, the cooperative is gaining based on the audited financial statement since its operation, although at times we have to work even without pay,” Sonia Pengroso said, BOD Chairperson of the BHRFAC.
However, evaluation results show the coop did not meet their forecast in 2016 in terms of membership. The members are then challenged to do more in campaigning and conducting pre-membership education seminar which is a requirement in joining the coop. (PR)