El Salvador: Farmer cooperative boosts product quality, branding
Held recently under DTI’s One Town, One Product [OTOP] Programme, the session focused on evaluating and improving the packaging, labeling, and market readiness of micro and small enterprises
LALA, May 19, 2025 — The El Salvador Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative [ESFMPC], an agrarian reform beneficiary organisation in Barangay El Salvador, has strengthened its product quality and branding strategies through the Department of Trade and Industry’s [DTI] Assessment, Consultation, and Triage [ACT] session.
Held recently under DTI’s One Town, One Product [OTOP] Programme, the session focused on evaluating and improving the packaging, labeling, and market readiness of micro and small enterprises.
With support from DTI’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme [CARP], the cooperative presented six products for assessment: crunchy tilapia, deboned tilapia, pork longganisa, pork tocino, chicken longganisa, and chicken tocino.
A panel of specialists in branding, food technology, and packaging reviewed the products and provided recommendations on labeling requirements, shelf stability, product aesthetics, and marketing strategies to help them become more competitive in local and regional markets.
“We welcome every opportunity to improve our products. Being part of this session has opened our eyes to the possibilities ahead. The feedback we received from experts will truly help us grow and expand our reach,” said Salvador Tamesis, general manager of the cooperative.
Coops in Philippine’s Cagayan Valley Region supported
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, in a continued effort to support local farmers and cooperatives, the Department of Agriculture [DA] has oriented 15 agricultural cooperatives in the Cagayan Valley Region on the Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid [APP] Programme.
Regional Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino said the programme aims to provide financial assistance, low-cost credit, and expanded market access to farming communities, especially those involved in rice production.
She emphasised the vital role of agricultural cooperatives in driving transformation within the agriculture sector.
“The APP programme initiative seeks to improve productivity, reduce production costs, and enhance the incomes of farmers. Thorough this, our cooperative members can access additional inputs and capital to lower the cost of producing rice. This is a significant step toward reducing the cost structure of palay production,” Aquino said.
Regional Technical Director Roberto C. Busania also stressed the importance of collaboration in supporting farmers.
“This is a convergence effort. We must work hand in hand to provide real assistance to our farmers, with the cooperatives as our frontline partners,” Busania said.
Several resource speakers from key partner institutions participated in the session, including representatives from the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, National Irrigation Administration, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, National Food Authority, and Planters Products, Inc. Each organisation highlighted its support services aligned with the objectives of the APP Programme.
Following the orientation, the participating cooperatives will proceed with the loan application, evaluation, and approval processes under the APP Programme.
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