Capiz sugarcane farmers tour Antique muscovado sugar mills

By Niño S. Manaog

University Extension Associate II

Capiz State University

An association of sugar cane planters from President Roxas, Capiz led by Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (Pakisama) Western Visayas headed by Coordinator Marissa Tuazon went on an exposure trip to muscovado processing mills in the province of Antique recently.

Through Pakisama's coordination with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Capiz, some 15 farmer members of the Sto Niño Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (SNARBMPC) led by Chairperson Leonisa de la Cruz and Manager Ronaldo Capapas of barangay Sto Niño, President Roxas, Capiz visited a number of muscovado sugar processing sites in the towns San Jose de Buenavista, Bugasong and Laua-an, all of Antique.

The team first visited the Antique Federation of Cooperatives (AFCCUI) showroom in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, where Marketing Officer Richard Montero briefed them on the muscovado products manufactured and marketed by AFCCUI. The team then visited El Maestro Muscovado Packaging, AFCCUI’s packaging center situated in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

AT THE EL MAESTRO MUSCOVADO PACKAGING CENTER

An El Maestro Muscovado Packaging Center personnel briefs the Capiz sugarcane farmers led by Pakisama Visayas Coordinator Marissa Tuazon (second from left) and trained Farmer Technician Denia Pastrana (third from left) on the packaging details of their products.

Accompanied by Ms. Fely Labrador of AFFCUI, the group proceeded to a privately owned sugar mill in Bugasong where the DAR and DA personnel shared information with the mill owner and operators. Here, the farmers observed the last steps involved in sugar milling.

After dropping by San Jose de Buenavista for lunch, the study team proceeded to the processing site and business office of Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative in Laua-an, Antique. In the last stop at Laua-an, the farmers and coordinators were briefed by Mr. Ernesto Española, Jr., the cooperative’s manager, who shared substantial information on the mills equipment and his management practices.

Under the Farmers for Food Project of Pakisama, the study tour allowed participants to see sugarcane milling technologies from the host cooperatives and organizations. More important, the exposure trip drew valuable responses from them. While some of the farmers said it was their first time to go to Antique and see muscovado mills and processing, others expressed satisfaction and enjoyment despite the long-hour trip. The delegation virtually toured the three provinces of Panay Island in one day, starting from President Roxas, Capiz going to Iloilo and Antique to Aklan and back to Capiz.

Participants observed that the mill in Bugasong, Antique used basic facilities and less-managed practices. This privately owned mill processes muscovado sugar the conventional way. For instance, it still uses gantang as a mode of sharing or portioning. The processing also takes place in a makeshift bodega or barn-like structure made of wooden and bamboo materials. Nevertheless, their exposure to this mill gave them a firsthand experience with the presence of small-scale sugar mills.

SUCCESS IS COUNTED SWEETEST

The Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative (left) produces muscovado sugar available in three quality grades.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bepir Delfin, infrastructure coordinator of DAR Capiz, noted that despite the long trip to the sites, the entire effort was productive because he managed to secure the model and specifications for the building, the physical layout including the specifications for the chimney and ventilation and the baking ovens.  De la Cruz observed that the Bugasong sugar mill uses 3 kilns or processing ovens for muscovado while the Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative has five processing dishes and a giant salaan.


Other participants said the prices of their product are affordable, while others were amazed by how the mills they visited process the muscovado sugar. Some even said that they were excited to handle and operate the machines in the processing mills and others expressed gratitude for the safe travel of the entire delegation.

LAUAAN MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE PROCESSING SITE

Mr. Ernesto Espanola, Jr., manager of Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative (left) shares to trained Farmer Technician and SNARBMPC board of directors member Elnie Gequila (second from right) and fellow sugar cane farmers vital information on his muscovado sugar processing operations. Established in 1991, Laua-an MPC has been granted financial assistance by a host of NGOs including Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). The cooperative has been processing muscovado sugar since 2008.

Magdalena Saspa, member of the cooperative’s board of directors, had to say that the exposure trip inspired her on how to enhance the management capabilities of the cooperative in handling projects.

According to Pakisama Coordinator Marissa Tuazon, the Laua-an Multipurpose Cooperative is well-organized and observes good management. For Tuazon, one could see the unity among its officers and members, “which serves them well.” Tuazon observed that the Lauaan Multipurpose Cooperative, the second site visited by the group, also has a model processing mill. Moreover, its resource personnel and those in charge of the machines and mills explained well the functions of the equipment used, even as they were also willing to share the information to the participants.

KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY SHARING
Elnie Gequilan, trained farmer technician and board of director of SNRBMMPC (left) consults the owners of the muscovado sugar mill in Bugasong. Among others, the study team sought details on facilities they can replicate for SNARBMPC including the specifications of the sugar mill equipment produced for them by a Bacolod-based fabricator.

While the Bugasong sugar mill is privately owned, the equipment and facilities in Lauaan Multipurpose Cooperative are financed by a host of national and international organizations including Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The colaboration between the Capiz State University and Pakisama Visayas was made possible through the coordinaton efforts of Mr. Eduardo Navarra, CapSU's university extension specialist.

AFFCCUI SHOWROOM VISITORS

Capiz sugarcane farmers led by Leonisa de la Cruz (standing first from left) and Manager Ronaldo Capapas (standing, third from right) assisted by Pakisama Visayas Coordinator Marissa Tuazon (front row, fourth from left) establish contacts with AFFCUI represented by Marketing Officer Richard Montero (front row, extreme right). Among others, the partnership will allow for collaborations on muscovado sugar processing.