| Danial Norjidi |
THE participants of a fruit-processing training programme for agriculture cooperatives were awarded certificates yesterday for the successful completion of their course in a closing ceremony held at the iCentre.
The month-long training programme, which saw participation from members of 28 agriculture cooperatives, began on November 26, 2016.
It was organised by the Cottage Industry and Cooperatives Division (CIC), Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EIDPMO) and IMBRU Essential Oil Enterprise as the training facilitator.
The intensive training, which aimed at building the capacity of participants, was in the form of workshops (also practical) and seminars.
Placements, business-matching and knowledge-sharing sessions with overseas cooperatives were also held in order to further educate participants on the different agricultural products processing operations and other potential value-added downstream agribusiness.
The participants of a successfully completed fruit-processing training programme for agriculture cooperatives. – DANIAL NORJIDI
The programme aimed to promote the involvement of agriculture cooperatives in agribusiness activities and processing of agricultural products as well as to increase their income through the marketing of value-added agricultural products.
Through the training, participants received guidance on improving governance in cooperatives’ affairs and business management, which include management methods, marketing concepts, the marketing of quality products as well as the proper use of machinery and equipment, in order to increase the competitiveness of participating agricultural cooperatives.
The programme involved theory and practical courses on processing post-harvest raw products, processing of post-harvest to food products, as well as converting fruit waste to compost and organic fertilisers.
Additionally, participants learnt how to become more efficient with their resources and how to generate additional income by utilising the by-product (waste and pulp) of their produce.
Courses on how to overcome and increase the lifespan of perishable agricultural commodities, how to efficiently handle and store agricultural products as well as how to reduce the cost of production also formed part of the training programme.
“With this programme, it is hoped that it can elevate the standard of existing agricultural cooperatives to ‘Secondary Cooperative Societies’ through the establishment of the centre of collection, distribution, processing and marketing of fruit as the core business activities, instead of just focusing on the farming aspect of the business,” stated a press release issued by the EIDPMO.
Present to hand out the certificates of completion to the programme’s participants was Dayangku Khairunnisa binti Pengiran Haji Zahari, Cooperative Development Officer from the CIC, EIDPMO.
In a welcoming speech, Cooperative Development Officer Norhazamiah binti Hamid as the training programme’s chief coordinator highlighted that throughout the course, participants showed great interest and enthusiasm.
She expressed hope that the programme’s objectives will be achieved, particularly in elevating existing agricultural cooperatives to secondary cooperative societies through the establishment of collection centres.
“It is the hope of the Cottage Industry and Cooperatives Division for the knowledge gained to be practised and shared with members of other cooperatives,” she said.
“I urge everyone to practise the knowledge and skills acquired.”
Speaking as a representative of the course participants at yesterday’s event, Haji Amat bin Haji Anggas congratulated the organisers for its successful implementation.
“Since the cooperative movement was introduced in the mid-70s, we believe that the government has carried out various efforts to grow and develop cooperatives in Brunei.”
He called on his colleagues and friends to together make use of all the knowledge attained during the course “because it is very useful to us to develop our respective cooperatives”.
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