SSF For Pineapple Processing
Batas is one of the barangays in Silang, Cavite that is known to be producing large volumes of pineapples. Of the total agricultural land are, two hundred hectares is devoted for pineapple plantation.On the average , it has achieved a production level of 31 metric tons per hectare, which is far higher than the provincial and regional averages of 10.8MT and 5.3 MT per hectare respectively.
Their organization as assessed has been at their highest level of maturity for a couple of years, so the Batas ARC wants to pursue entrepreneurship. That is through pineapple processing into tarts and pies utilizing mostly the rejects or undersized fruits. This would create more jobs, augment the farmers’ income and ensure non-spoilage of rejects. Looking forward to increase their income and create additional jobs, they have to expand their business and spend further market coverage. In doing this, they also are required to apply for a license to operate. As a prerequisite to this, several tests of the products should be performed to assure food safety. However, the cooperative has been delimited by insufficient capital to pursue the project. They needed additional ovens and funds for plant improvement, food analysis and testing and FDA-LTO registration, which was provided by DTI (baking ovens only).