GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) — The World Bank (WB) has adopted the Php39.3 million cassava granules production and marketing project in South Cotabato as pilot enterprise development initiative under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
Justina Navarrete, acting head of the South Cotabato Office of Provincial Agriculturist, said Monday WB representatives were earlier impressed with the project’s business enterprise plan during a recent presentation made by the proponents.
She said the business plan’s presentation was joined by representatives from the World Bank led by its lead rural development specialist Carol Figueroa-Geron.
The bank is assisting the Php27.5 billion project through a loan grant to the national government and regularly monitors its implementation on the ground.
“They were specifically impressed with the project in terms of its viability and potential impact to the beneficiaries,” Navarrete said.
The cassava project, which was proposed by the Polo Samahang Nayon Multipurpose Cooperative (SNMPC) based in Polomolok town in South Cotabato, was the first initiative approved by the PRDP under its I-REAP component or the Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity.
The PRDP, which is implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), earlier issued a “no objection letter” to allow the cassava project to proceed to the procurement stage.
Program implementers are expected to issue a second “no objection letter” within the next two months to allow the full implementation of the project.
Navarrete said WB representatives were optimistic the project would help marginalized farmers increase their income.
She said Geron specifically noted that plan could serve as a model all over the country and the project could become a resource center for other cooperatives.
“The team was also impressed with proponent-cooperative because of its positive reputation,” she said.
The Polo SNPMC was a former national winner of the Gawad Saka Awards and the Gawad Pitak Awards.
Around 1,600 farmers and farm laborers in South Cotabato province are expected to benefit from the project, which is slated to begin by the second quarter of the year.
The cassava granules production and marketing project is part of the initial Php84 million worth of grants approved by the PRDP for Region 12 under its I-REAP component.
The other projects are the Php30 million virgin coconut oil production in Sarangani Province and the Php15 million rubber sheets production in North Cotabato
The project will initially cover a production area of 250 hectares coverage and will expand by 40 percent in terms of hectarage in the next six years.
Polo SNMPC has 150 members who are growing cassava in 300 hectares of farmlands and produce around 2.4 metric tons of cassava granules annually.
The project will have a total investment cost of Php41.43 million and is seen to generate an average annual income of Php13.56 million within its six-year implementation period.(PNA)