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Around 3,000 farmers dependent on the muscovado industry are expected
to benefit from a plan to strengthen the organic sugar industry.
Antique
has the most number of muscovado farmers, followed by Negros Occidental,
Tarlac, Pangasinan, and Sultan Kudarat.
The
plan was put forward in a recent multistakeholder workshop, organized
by the Philippine Development Assistance Programme, Inc. (PDAP),
held in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Stakeholders
also discussed the state of the Philippine muscovado industry, identified
the issues and concerns, and formulated mechanisms to further strengthen
it.
The
group looked at the potentials and opportunities for developing
the industry. Low production, high prices of inputs and labor, product
quality, and weak extension services, among other problems, were
identified to be hindering its growth.
PDAP,
a foreign-funded nongovernmental organization with development commitments
to poverty reduction and human security, presented an analysis of
the industry profile and initial sectoral plans.
The
plan, according to PDAP, will be useful in defining strategic interventions
under its program on Promoting Rural Industry and Market Enhancement
(PRIME). The program supports the development of organic and natural
products to become sustainable rural industries.
As
one of the stakeholders in organic agriculture development, PCARRD,
through its Agricultural Resources Management Research Division,
intends to provide the necessary S&T services to promote the
muscovado industry.
Also,
PCARRD will sit as one of the member-agencies in the PDAP Technical
Working Group that will be responsible for drafting of the Philippine
national standards for organic muscovado. (Ofelia F. Domingo, S&T
Media Service)
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