Started as a Farmers Irrigators Association in 1978, now Salug Valley Compact Farming System Multi-purpose Cooperative (SAVACOMPAS) is composed of farmers who are agrarian reform beneficiaries with cluster members of seven (7) compact farmers in the municipalities of Molave, Mahayag, Ramon Magsaysay and Tambulig in Zamboanga del Sur. This organization is engaged in rice production loan, lending for other purposes, input dealership and marketing of palay and milled rice.
From its 80 original members and thirteen thousand eight hundred pesos (P13,800.00) paid up capital, the cooperative has grown in numbers with a total of 645 memberships and increased its net worth up to P 5.7 million in 2011. However, the present demand of good quality rice posed a big problem on the cooperative. With their obsolete rice drying facility, the cooperative produces low quality rice during rainy season, hence, a need to upgrade their existing drying equipment.
Through the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), the Department of Science and Technology Region IX (DOST IX) has funded the acquisition of the mechanical drier and rice hull fired furnace (8 tons capacity) worth P750,000.00 for SAVACOMPAS. In addition, DOST IX will provide skills upgrading of the operator through training on the use of the newly-acquired equipment. Through this facility, the cooperative is expected to have an increase in their drying capacity up to more than thirty percent (30%) thus increase their sales and income.
SETUP, a flagship program of DOST, is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in implementing technological innovations and improvements in their operations to boost their productivity and competitiveness. (DOST IX PRESS RELEASE)
