ARDCI - Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc.

Virac, Catanduanes 4800 Philippines

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Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes (ARDCI) is an offshoot of a medium scale development project...

ARDCI ventures on Tiger Grass marketing to back local producers, product designers
ARDCI, one of the leading microfinance institution in Bicol launched this year Lasa Enterpirse Development Program that aims to intervene in marketing tiger grass (locally know as Lasa) and support local farmers and product designers. This enterprise is in connection with the organization’s five priority plan that birthed last 2006 with its objective to create a business and marketing arm sustainable for self-generating income and responsible of innovating more ways to give its clienteles better service and benefits
    “Part of our product development is to reach out agricultural potentials in the province especially lasa ”, said Production and Marketing Officer, Mr. Vic Bernal.
    “We are in close coordination with government agencies like DTI, TESDA, and other linkages to further improve and innovate designs of softbrooms and other novelty items we plan to export. We are also providing trainings and seminars to producers and designers to assure the quality of the products”, he added.
    Baseline data showed that lasa is a secondary major product of the province next to abaca.“Unfortunately, an estimated of 80% of the total production of lasa is being dispersed out of the province and the remaining 20% is consumed in the province for processing of finished products mostly softbrooms”, he commented.
The voluminous dispersal was caused by other buyers from different provinces who are exploiting with the very low price from the standard price of lasa plus the lack of ordinance that regulate it strictly. There was even a confirmed case that some of softbrooms sold were tampered by buyers with another name like “Baguio softbrooms”. The product is even sold higher than usual.
    “With this situation, ARDCI is in rescue to eliminate it. We are giving right price, act as alternative buyer, and give support for craftsmen that entail more employment and skill development”, he said.
    According to him, the selling mission they conducted in Cebu and other Visayan provinces last month was a stepping stone for recognition of the province products. He also added that they already delivered different sets of designed softbrooms now displayed at Guisano mall showroom in Cebu.
    “We are also working our partnership with other malls in Manila and we look on it positively”, said he.
Meanwhile, ARDCI has already sample displayed items of different designs of softbrooms in head office.
 
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