FPRDI helps Zambales tree growers’ sawmill
June 11, 2013
The Botolan Agro-Forest, Inc. (BAFI), a tree growers’ cooperative based in Zambales, is looking forward to brighter days. It has just purchased two units of Woodmizer sawmill following the technical advice of FPRDI’s For. Pablito Alcachupas.
Mr. Dick Hakansson, BAFI manager, has asked for FPRDI’s help as their sawmilling plant has been suffering from poor productivity for one year now, unable to reach its designed rated capacity of 5,000 board feet of logs per 8-hour operation.
Established in 2001, BAFI has developed 300 hectares of mangium, gmelina and eucalyptus tree plantations in Botolan and neighboring towns in Zambales.
Said Alcachupas, “Because of using the wrong kind of equipment and hiring skills-deficient operators, the plant needlessly generates vast amounts of wood wastes, most of which end up as firewood or charcoal. We have advised the management to purchase the right machines and tools, and to make sure their workers are trained on how to best process the small diameter and irregularly shaped logs of plantation species.”
“The management’s openness to our suggestions means BAFI can expect increased efficiency in the days to come,” he continued. “Hopefully, this will translate into bigger and more successful industrial tree plantations not only in Zambales, but also in other parts of the country. More plantations mean more revenues for the LGUs and more jobs for the local people who will be hired to plant, maintain and harvest the trees.”
FPRDI’s technical assistance was coordinated by Mr. Pedrito Lontok of the Business Development and Intellectual Property Section (BDIPS) of the Technical Services Division . (Rizalina K. Araral, 10 June 2013)#
