Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture - Longest coop soon to market online

Longest coop soon to market online

Written by Administrator
Monday, 30 July 2007
San Benito Multipurpose Cooperative is the longest-existing farmer cooperative in Laguna. The Coop does not only produce high-quality rice, but they are also known for their honeydew melon. Now the cooperative is part of the Laguna Cyber Community, a project of the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture. Ms. Divina Kampitan, Municipal Agriculture Officer (MAO) of Victoria, Laguna stressed she is expecting the cooperative to become stronger and more stable. “Through this project, we can have faster communication which in turn can make us more competitive in terms of marketing our agricultural products,” said Mr. Glen Quidayan, Provincial Agriculture Reform Officer (PARO). He explained that ICT tools like computer unit and the Internet can improve the cooperative’s product marketing status. With just a click of a button, SBMC can transact business in a short span of time with their clients in any part of the country, PARO Quidayan explained. He also said that Mr. Benjamin Villanueva, SBMC Chair, just have to “chat” with their clients. Moreover, PARO Quidayan added that as part of the Department of Agrarian Reform Enterprise Development Program, he is looking forward to make SBMC a model cooperative since they (SBMC) now have the advantage of using ICT in marketing their products. The willingness of SBMPC to participate in the use of ICT made them as one the recipients of a computer unit, Rice Knowledge Bank, and PhilRice CDs SBMPC has 370 active members who are tilling 80 hectares of land for inbred and hybrid rice production, melon and honeydew, and vegetables production. Laguna cyber community was launched on July 19 in Victoria, Laguna, completing 12 cyber community of the Open Academy. Members of the cyber community include Local Government Unit (LGU) of Victoria, San Benito Multi-Purpose Cooperativ e, and PhilRice Los Baños. The launching ceremony was attended by OPAPA program director Roger F. Barroga, and witnessed by the SBMPC Chairman Benjamin Villanueva, MAO Divina Kampitan, PhilRice Los Banos Branch Manager Mar Movillon, and Provincial Agriculture Reform Officer (PARO) Glen Quidayan. The turnover of the ICT wares to San Benito Multi Purpose Cooperative was followed by a demonstration of the Rice Knowledge Bank CD. The LGU of Victoria envisions the Cyber Community as their avenue in improving the town’s agricultural marketing sector. Aside from the officials mentioned above, the event was attended by 13 members from the cooperative, two staffers from the MAO’s office, Daniel Mendoza, a representative from the Provincial Agrarian Reform Committee, and six PhilRice staffers.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 January 2008 )