Kababaihan Masigla ng Nueva Ecija


		Multi-Commodity Solar Tunnel Dryer (MCSTD) is a technology used as an alternative to sundrying of commodities on pavements, producing quality dried agriculture and fishery products like mango, banana, cassava, and seafoods like shrimp, anchovy, danggit and espada, mong others.


Adopting the MCSTD
When BFAR learned that KMNE is continuously producing tilanggit, they recommended the use of MCSTD. To facilitate the acquisition of the technology, the MCSTD from Bataan which has been inactive for some time was repaired and transferred to Ilog Baliwag to assist the KMNE members in their tilanggit processing. "I was very impressed, I never expected that the result will be like that when you use the MCSTD). I can produce 10 times more compared to the conventional dryer that I used", Mrs. Joson stated.

Mrs. Joson's long search for a cheap mechanical dryer for food processing, even copying several designs from some State Universities ended when BPRE introduced to her the MCSTD. This time, BPRE's technology met her criteria for an efficient and hygienic drying process. Thus, she becme the bureau's collaborator. The MCSTD requires only electricity to run the blower and the drying requirement to process tamarind and tilanggit was cut into half. Usually, it takes 3-4 days to dry tilanggit and 6-7 days to dry tamarind but with the use of MCSTD, drying can be completed in 1-2 days for tilanggit and 3-4 days for tamarind. This can be shortened depending on the heat of the sun. "With the use of MCSTD, the products were dried hygienically. The entry of flies and dust as well as the bad smell of tilanggit were also minimized. Also, we dry simultaneously to maximize the dryer's capacity and I haven't seen any problem", Mrs. Joson said. The MCSTD project in Quezon, Nueva Ecija is a collaborative project of BPRE, BFAR- Region III and the KMNE.

Secrets of Success
"Sipag at tiyaga", this is how Mrs. Joson described how she was able to achieve her dreams. She pointed out that they always try to develop new no-preservative products to be sold in the market. She advises, "go back to basics and go natural". Mrs. Joson hopes that in the coming years the organization will be able to enter the export market through better quality products.




October 21, 2003
PASIG CITY - A women's livelihood group in Nueva Ecija province represented by the Provincial Trade and Investments Office under the administration of Gov. Tomas N. Joson III has informed officials of the Technology and livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) of their plan to market in Metro Manila a rice wine they had developed.

Calling themselves Kababaihang Masigla ng Nueva Ecija , they have concocted and comercialized a rice wine called "Vin Arroz".

Joson said that the group intends to market the local version of Japanese sake through the assistance of the TLRC that holds office here.

With the help of the provincial government, the group has plans of setting up a processing plant to increase production.

The Metro Manila areas they have identified for market penetration are Ortigas Center in Pasig City, Mandaluyong City and San Juan; Almanza in Las Pinas City and Alabang in Muntinlupa City; Monumento in Caloocan City; Araneta Center and Fairview in Quezon City; Ermita and Malate in the City of Manila; Makati Avenue in Makati City; and Libis-Eastwood in the Pasig-Quezon City border.

In a press statement, the grroup said that they have a strategy wherby urbanities could relate to the need to patronize local wine for the generation of local employment and health reasons.

They have also addressed the problem of industrial design and packaging by commissioning artists from their province who have talent potential and skilled in advertising and graphic arts. (A. Lacson)