ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept. 23 (PNA) –- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Shared Service Facility (SSF) program, has turned over PhP2.11 million worth of farming equipment to four cooperatives of farmers in Zamboanga del Sur.
Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, DTI regional director, said Wednesday the equipment included two solar dryers and two sets of organic fertilizer processors.
Jain said the beneficiary-cooperatives of the solar dryers were the Molave Abaca Strippers Association (MASA) and Josefina Abaca Strippers Association (JASA) while the organic fertilizer processors went to the Labangan Farmers First Consolidate Cooperative (LAFFICO) and Kahugpungan sa mga Mag-Uuma/Mamumuong Kababayen-An (KASAMMAKA) of Tigbao municipality.
Jain said they are happy for the cooperators and hoped that the facilities would help them become more productive and progressive.
However, Jain also challenged the members of the four beneficiary-cooperatives to take good care of the facilities.
Jain said the equipment, for the first two years, will be under the name of DTI Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Director Ma. Socorro Atay and will be transferred to the beneficiary-cooperatives “if within that period we saw” that they have properly use the apparatuses.
Mayor Ireneo Glepa of Molave thanked the DTI for the initiative and has encouraged the MASA members to work and put the support of the government into good use.
Vice Mayor Catalino Adapon of Josefina also expressed gratitude for the help given to JASA.
Meanwhile, Jain has invited the members of the beneficiary-cooperatives to visit her office for assistance in their businesses.
She said the agency has other programs that will beneficiary-cooperatives from product development to marketing. (PNA)