Category: Carabao-Based Enterprise Development

Showing all posts with category Carabao-Based Enterprise Development

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From arid soil to a land of free-flowing milk

The years 1982 and 1983 were haunting for the agricultural municipality of President Roxas, Cotabato, as a prolonged dry spell left villagers starving and crippled with the loss of harvest and livelihood. Desperate parishioners of the Sta. Catalina church sought help from the priest (and later co-op founder) Fr.Fred Epiz. Through the priest and other church leaders, the “Tindahang Kooperatiba sa Parokya” sari-sari store was erected behind the church where the parishioners sold basic commodities. Through the years the little store born out of drought, flourished to a well of opportunities for the community through buffalo dairying.

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Typical farmers no more

It was a quiet, laid-back afternoon and the barrio people were just about to wind down after a day’s work. When they saw visitors approaching, they blithely gathered around. A vibrant conversation ensued and those huddled in a circle gazed at one direction—it was toward an outmoded hut that has gotten along in years, drearily sitting on the dirt road leading to the neighborhood.