Agriculture Business Week

The Development Bank of the Philippines has committed to extend an initial P11-million revolving credit line to Sultan Kudarat Muscovado Farmers and Millers Corp. (SKMFC)-to boost its working capital in behalf of the farmers and millers in Sultan Kudarat.

The loan agreement was signed during the recent Second Partners Forum for Promoting Rural Industries and Market Enhancement (PRIME) program at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management auditorium in Quezon City.

SKMFC is one of the country’s leading muscovado producers and the biggest in Mindanao with an average production of about 320 tons of muscovado sugar a month. It is composed of two farmers’ cooperatives, eight individual millers and several farmers. It is based in President Quirino, a fourth class municipality in Sultan Kudarat.

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Cornelio Jr. and Janeth Castaneda had all the reasons to be happy at the last International Food Exhibition held at the World Trade Center. The product they exhibited, organic muscavado sugar, was in great demand not only in the local market but also abroad.

Cornelio, who is the president of the Sultan Kudarat Muscovado Farmers and Millers Corporation, said they have a most pleasant problem. There is a huge demand for organic muscovado sugar which they couldn’t possibly supply by themselves and by other producers within a short time. Which means that they don’t have to worry about lowering their price so they can dispose of their produce. In fact, Comelio said he had just dismissed the ploy of a trader who said he would just buy his supply from Northern Luzon if could not be given a discount.

Recently, before they participated in the IFEX, Cornelio was invited in Manila to a teleconference with muscovado buyers from Korea and Japan. He was really overwhelmed by the demand abroad. The Korean buyer said he would like to import 600 tons monthly. The Japanese buyer, on the other hand, also wanted the same quantity.

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Standarization of the conventional muscavado processing through upgrading of the facilities of sugar mills in Antique is seen to boost the province’s muscovado industry.

This was revealed by the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VI in Iloilo City which has recently assisted eleven sugar mills in Antique under the project called “Upgrading the Muscovado Mills in the Province of Antique”.

Through its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program Innovation System Support Fund (SET-UP ISSF), the assistance was turned over by DOST Regional Director Rowen R. Gelonga to the provincial government of Antique headed by Governor Salvacion Z. Perez.

The recipients, which are all members of the Antique Muscovado Producers Marketing Cooperative in the town of Patnungon, were provided with a total of P1.1 million funding assistance in the form of stainless steel settling tank with pump assembly and a stainless steel cooling trough.

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Consumer interest in healthy and organic foods has revived the interest in muscovado sugar.

Did you know that excessive consumption of refined sugar can lead one to suffer from increased cholesterol levels, gallstones, and weak eyesight? For years, refined sugar has been the primary sweetener for everyone. But, recent research has shed light on some health complications caused by excessive intake of refined sugar. Because of the general trend these days for more healthy options, people are rediscovering healthy and organic foods like brown rice, muscovado, etc. These products often contain little chemicals and undergo little processing. Of these products, muscovado has one of the greatest potentials in terms of export and may be the key to revive the country’s flagging sugar industry.

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