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enterprise was able to reinforce its strengths, resolve its weaknesses and identify areas for improvement. Further, a strategic planning workshop was conducted on May 23, 2008 with the Calzado Management Consultancy to come up with a draft vision, mission and growth strategy that reflects the TAWIDCRAFT’s legacy of fine quality work and unique designs, excellent management skills and commitment to customer satisfaction. In 2010, the company availed of another SETUP assistance with the project entitled “Sterling Tableware: A New Direction in Silvercrafts Manufacturing for Tawid Crafts.” This project focused on the provision of technology interventions to enable the firm to diversify products to include sterling silver tableware, increase production
COVID-19 may be the invisible enemy that is slowly tearing down and burying the dreams of non-essential business workers but this did not deter TAWIDCRAFT. Instead, it is now more determined to find ways to gain back the demand for the industry and in turn maintain the jobs of its workers. TAWIDCRAFT continues to advertise its products in several local bazaars and is looking into various options on marketing strategies to reach a wider set of customers. At present, it is strengthening its online marketing platforms during the ‘new normal’. For now, the company can be reached through their social media accounts but it will be launching its own website, tawidsilver.com soon. // DOST-CAR S&T Promotion Unit
From Seeds of Love; Couple Builds Cacao Business in Ifugao
By: DOST PSTC-Ifugao
Agriculture and the love of nature brings much wonder since it is a natural therapy that saves us from stress in our daily lives. Thus, love of nature and farming should not start when one is about to retire because anyone could enjoy the fruits of farming and backyard gardening, even more so, in the new normal. The Love Nature Farm; A cacao seedling booms into business The Love Nature Farm in Mabatobato, Lamut, Ifugao was built out of Mr. Lemuel and Edna Norial’s love for nature and farming and have long made agriculture their way of life. It started when the couple was able to successfully grow cacao. They realized the business opportunities in growing cacao and decided to produce seedlings out of their harvest. With their passion and determination in farming, they were able to increase and nurture more seedlings, despite experiencing setbacks, such as forest fires. Their seedling production has become part of their farm activities and they eventually succeeded in reforesting the barren portions of their farm to include 600 various fruit bearing trees. 7
and expand market outlets.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) thru its Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Ifugao, upon learning of their initiatives and their passion in agriculture, encouraged them to go full blast into cacao farming. This project PSTC-Ifugao since development of PSTC–Ifugao had activities in Ifugao
was a “dream come true” for it had been pushing for the the cacao industry in Ifugao. earlier implemented support to promote cacao development.
The firm was then enrolled as a beneficiary under the Consultancy for Agricultural Productivity Enhancement (CAPE) in 2015 to help fully develop their four (4) hectare farm. Different varieties of cacao seeds from Davao for seedling propagation were provided by the DOST consultant aside from the technical assistance that include suggestions and recommendations for improvement. Among these are: (a) Intercropping of cacao between existing crops; (b) establishment of cacao nursery; (c) intercropping of different vegetables and early maturing crops in the open areas of the farm; and (d) vegetating the area that will serve as temporary and as well as permanent shades.
