Provision of support for sustainable carabao-based enterprises in rural farming communities is one of the services of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to its farmer clients. An example of which is the conduct of a social preparation training (SPT) for newly-formed cooperatives.
The most recent of which was done for Buklod ng Samahang Magsasaka (BSM) in Sitio Saudi, Brgy. Pias, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija last March 1 and 2.
Thus, BSM is now listed in the official records of the National Impact Zone (NIZ) as one of the 51 partner-cooperatives of PCC.
Ten pioneering members of BSM participated in the SPT including three representatives from the local government of General Tinio.
Ericson Dela Cruz, Carabao-based Enterprise Development (CBED) national coordinator shared his expertise on establishing a cooperative and carabao dairy production management based on the theme “Proyektong Pangkabuhayan Salig sa Kalabaw (Carabao-Based Livelihood Project).”
Among the topics that Dela Cruz discussed included the following: requirements in cooperative development, four pillars for the continuous success of the project, partnership for the cooperative-forming part; and determining appropriate body condition score of the dairy animal, dairy production and management, and inventory of animal-owners on feed resources of dairy animals.
He emphasized on the importance of daily strict monitoring to ensure that each member of the cooperative is contributing to the overall success of the enterprise. He said farmers should make it a habit to frequently watch over the animals in their care because this will ensure proper farm management.
The second day of the training was capped with a self and group assessments regarding farmers’ capability to implement the topics that were discussed in the first day.
Wilma Del Rosario, NIZ coordinator, assured the members of BSM during their graduation ceremony that PCC will do its best in terms of technical support provision to ensure that the partnership will be in the long term.
Estella Valiente and Carlo Tienzo, community development officer and CBED support staff, respectively, were among the representatives of PCC who joined Dela Cruz and Del Rosario in organizing the said training.
