The Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services Inc (CorDisRDS) delivered a second mechanized sugarcane presser (dapilan) in Kayan East, Tadian, Mt. Province on February 11, 2022. The assistance aims to help farmers and the community to process and produce large amounts of sugar, muscovado and other by products.
This initiative stemmed out from research and assistance conducted by CorDisRDS since 2009 in response to the massive landslide that claimed the lives of 38 individuals and destroyed 19 houses in Kayan East, Tadian. On the other hand, CorDisRDS’ study revealed that residents of Kayan East and West, Tadian use sugar daily and spend at least a million pesos a year. The study led to the strong advocacy of sugarcane production in Kayan in 2011. Since then, there is an increase of households in Kayan planting sugarcane in their backyard or a free lot.
Members of KUDO and staff of CorDIsRDS assess the old dapilan in Kayan
Furthermore, CorDisRDS assisted in organizing the Kayan Unity for Development Organization (KUDO) in 2009. Initially, the organization aimed of covering the bare and eroded areas of Kayan with sugarcane, a drought-resistant crop. This program targeted to regreen the bare mountains and landslide areas and making it productive.
KUDO first requested a manually-operated dapilan and provided by CorDisRDS in partnership with PFR for the community to use in 2014 to process small amounts of sugarcane. With abundance of sugarcane in the community, an additional dapilan to process large amounts of sugarcane and produce muscovado sugar, sugarcane vinegar, and sugarcane wine (basi) was requested by the farmers in Kayan.
The additional dapilan will help lessen the expenses of the people in Kayan in purchasing sugar. In addition, the end products of sugarcane will also be developed as an additional source of income for the people.
Parts of the Mechanized Sugar Presser that was delivered
This advocacy is also in line with the Partners for Resilience (PFR) Project to encourage and capacitate farmers on Disaster Risk Reduction, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem management and restoration.
Members of KUDO assembles the parts of the mechanized dapilan