The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III formally turned-over Calamansi Processing Facility to Palay and Kalamansi Farmers Agriculture Cooperative at Brgy. Bagong Sikat, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The facility was established under the fund of DA RFO III-High Value Crops Development Program for FY 2022 Regular program amounting to Php1, 397,749.98 together with the provision of Calamansi Juicer/Extractor.
The design of the said facility is in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as one of the requirements for the product to be approved by FDA. Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit (HVCRC) Evelyn G. Lavina led the Ceremony together with DA RFO 3 Field Operations Division Chief Elma S. Mananes, Regional HVCDP Focal Person Engr. AB P. David, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer June Lacasandile and Provincial Agriculturist Bernardo Valdez.
The processing facility will help all the members of the cooperative to increase their income through value adding.On behalf of Regional Executive Director Crispulo G. Bautista Jr., Mananes expressed their gratitude to all the members who attended the turn over ceremony. She also congratulated the Palay and Kalamansi Farmers Agriculture Cooperative for being the beneficiary of the processing facility. “Ang susi upang mas mapataas pa natin ang inyong mga kita ay mula sa pagpoproseso ng mga kalamansi” she emphasized.
On the other hand, Usec. Lavina encouraged the coop to engage into agribusiness and support every segment in the value chain. “Mahalaga din na magkaroon tayo ng malasakit sa bawat miyembro ng kooperatiba para lahat ay umangat at walang mapag iiwanan”. Chairman Romulo Camos thanked DA for giving them the processing facility. “Napakalaking pakinabang po ng facility na ito sa amin” he added. He also believed that this is just the beginning for them to increase their income through processing of Calamansi.
