Antique ARBs turn to peanut processing for more income

AGRARIAN reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Sibalom town, Antique province are turning to peanut processing for additional income.

Members of the BILI Agrarian Reform Cooperative (BILI ARCoop) are learning new skills and technology as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Antique led a skills training in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Antique in Sitio Bontol.

The training introduced cooperative members to preparing five peanut-based products: peanut polvoron, peanut brittle, spicy garlic peanuts, honey-glazed peanuts, and peanut butter.

By learning to process their harvest into marketable goods, ARBs can explore opportunities to earn beyond selling raw peanuts, supporting DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III’s push to strengthen beneficiaries’ livelihoods and develop agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) into sustainable enterprises, Business Mirror reported.

Food technologist Ma. Leah G. Danasco guided the participants through the preparation of the products with DTI Antique personnel Clark Iven R. Esparaguera and Olive Mae A. Tumugdan of Negosyo Center Sibalom facilitating the activity.

For BILI ARCoop, the skills offer a starting point for exploring value-added products that could attract buyers and generate additional income for its members. Turning raw peanuts into processed goods may also help the cooperative make better use of its agricultural produce.

Henry Dungganon of the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) in Sibalom and Samuel Cordero of PARCCOM-San Remigio encouraged cooperative members to keep developing their skills and working together to strengthen the organization.

Through its partnership with DTI, DAR continues to help ARBs explore ways to turn agricultural produce into potential livelihood enterprises, giving cooperatives practical skills they can build on as they pursue more sustainable sources of income.