MANILA, Philippines -- Members of the Cavite Farmers Feedmilling and Marketing Cooperative (Caffmaco) never thought they would go this far.

?We did not imagine that from an initial membership of 28 hog and livestock farmers in 1978, our co-op would now have nearly 2,000 members and that our assets would grow from a few thousand pesos to millions of pesos,? said Isabelo Ayeras, 72, one of the few surviving active founders of the cooperative.

Listed by the Department of Trade and Industry as a success story in Cavite, Caffmaco has received numerous citations, including one from the Cooperative Union of the Philippines.

Ayeras related how the lack of feeds at the start challenged them into putting their act together.

?We boiled root crops and paid for our own fares in organizing the members,? he recalled.

Now, the lives of co-op members have advanced, with some already millionaires, while ordinary employees now have their houses, have sent their children in good schools and own cars.

Help

In the early ?70s, the co-op?s founding members were trained in piggery, poultry and cattle-raising with help from the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction, Philippine Rural Life Center and the Cavite Inter-Agency, which is composed of 22 agencies from the government, religious and private sectors.

Caffmaco?s records showed an initial share capital of P6,030. Now, its total assets stand at P209,086,474.

From 10 employees in the beginning, the co-op now has 112.
The Caffmaco plant was constructed in 1982 and in the years that followed, other facilities took shape?a laboratory building, digital truck scale, corn mill and a poultry and piggery farm in Maragondon town.

Feed milling operation also became computerized while a pelletizing machine was installed.

Today, Caffmaco is into diversified projects: swine, sow and broiler dispersal and contract growing and meat processing, artificial insemination and tilapia raising.

Proudly bearing the tagline ?quality feeds,? the co-op operates a consumer store, meat shop and a canteen and catering services.
According to Sonny Hedor, credit and collections officer, the price of a bag of feeds varies, based on whether it is for pig or chicken or depending on the stage of growth of the animal. It ranges from P626.50 to P900.

Satisfied members

General manager Arnel Marasigan replaced Maximo Ditangan, who retired in December last year after more than 20 years of service.

Marasigan, who started as a production clerk when he joined the co-op in 1988, said they were indeed grateful to the founding members.

As much as possible, liberal benefits are extended to members, he said.
?We see to it that members? problems are discussed and immediately addressed, like providing them with loans,? said Dr. Crispina Corpuz, one of the board members.

They were working on a funeral care system for the members to spare them the trouble of withdrawing their shares for funeral expenses.
?No member has resigned and looked for another job, like the oldest employee who started when the co-op began. We have security of tenure,? Marasigan said.

He admitted that conflicts could not be avoided but these were minor ones. ?We won?t allow conflicts to affect our co-op; it?s our life,? he stressed.

The co-op has also attracted and inspired other professionals.
?I learned a lot from Caffmaco,? said its certified public accountant-lawyer Yolanda Quiñones, who is also a professor at the De la Salle University in Dasmariñas town.

She has invited Caffmaco to share its knowhow and attitude in her place of origin in Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro.

Caffmaco?s officers also include a veterinarian, a banker, livestock raisers, chemist, nutritionist and other business professionals.

Sustainability

Caffmaco officials and members are confident that they are here to stay. ?This is our life and we won?t allow anyone or anything to bring it down,? they said.

Several activities like team-building sessions, outreach programs, trainings and study tours in and out of the country are being undertaken by the co-op for its members.

?I wish that Caffmaco?s products will soon be in every town, penetrate the supermarket and one day be a byword,? said Marasigan.

(Those interested in Caffmaco and its products may write them through caffmacofeeds@yahoo.com.ph)