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DOST Assistance for SMEs by Rosella L. Gopo, DOST-Samar PSTC
Recognizing the critical role of SMEs in generating employment, earning foreign exchange and stimulating growth and development, and in line with President Gloria M. Arroyo's economic policies to support and sustain the growth of the manufacturing sector through the development of SMEs, the Department of Science and Technology is implementing the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading program or SET-UP.
SET-UP is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist micro, small and medium enterprises to adopt and implement technological innovation and improvement in their operations. It serves as the umbrella program for all technology transfer activities being done by DOST agencies towards identified priority sectors.
Initially, SET-UP will cover the six priority industry sectors that includes: 1) Food Processing, 2) Gifts, toys, housewares, handicrafts, natural fibers & dyes, 3) furnitures, 4) Marine and aquatic resources, 5) Horticulture (cutflowers, fruits, and high value crops, and 6) Metals and Engineering.
The package of interventions of SET-UP includes: a) Technology Upgrading/Acquisition; b) Technical/Productivity Consultancy Services; c) Calibration and Testing Services; and d) Packaging and Labelling.
For projects to qualify under the SET-UP, the project must fall in any of the six priority industry sectors covered; the interested enterprise must already be existing, operational and registered with proper authorities; the problem/constraint in production has been identified and the technological intervention properly identified, existing and ready for application; the proponent is competent to undertake the project based on experience, training, financial capability and track record; and the proponent is willing and able to pay back the amount used in capital outlay support.
To date our office has provided assistance to four SET-UP beneficiaries, namely KC Agri Food and Babe's Tinapa, both in Calbayog City, D & E Mats and Rattan Crafts of Basey and Super JEED Tahong Crackers of Jiabong. This year three proponents are being evaluated for possible technology acquisition assistance.
Vacuum Fried Jackfruit Chips Now Produced by Rosella L. Gopo, DOST-Samar PSTC
A healthy snack food, the crisp and crunchy vacuum fried jackfruit chips is already being produced by the KC Agri-Food in Calbayog City. The jackfruit chips that come in 30 gram packs are sold in some stores in the city bus terminal and a specialty store put up by the producer.
This is the first commercial scale production of a vacuum fried food products in the region. The food processing venture was made possible when Engr. Estanislao Chan, Jr., owner and manager of KC Agri-Food sought the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology Regional Offrice 8 (DOST8) through its Samar Provincial S & T Center, on how to process the jackfruit he is expecting to harvest from the 900 jackfruit trees planted in his farm. After some consultation and planning-meetings, the project "Pilot Production of Vacuun Fried Jackfruit Chips" was implemented. DOST8 made available to KC Agri-Food a 10-kg capacity vacuum fryer, provided Grant-In-Aid (GIA) funds for its repair and rehabilitation, and facilitated the technical assistance of experts from DOST - Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) Manila, the institute that developed the vacuum frying technology, and assistance from the Eastern Visayas Consurtium for Industry and Energy Research and Development (EVCIERD) with engineers from the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST).
The jackfruit chip is produced using the the new food processing technology called vacuum frying. The mature jackfruit is dried or water is removed rapidly from the jackfruit by frying it in oil at optimum temperature in the absence of air using the equipment called a vacuum fryer. Because of this innovative process, the flavor, taste and color of the jackfruit is retained and there is less fat absorption compared to the conventional method of chip production. The vacuum fried chip is considered a nutritious and healthy food because no artifical preservative is added.
The KC Agri-Food was able to showcase the jackfruit chips and its other jackfruit based confectioneries when it participated in the National Science and Technology Week exhibits in July 2006 at the PTTC Trade Hall, Manila. As of now, while it is still perfecting the vacuum frying process, its focus will be the local market in Calbayog City, Samar. But once the process is in place, and the packaging and labeling system is improved, it plans to expand its market to the key cities in the country and likewise diversify its product with vacuum fried vegetables and marine products.
The company address of KC Agri-Food is located at Barangay Rawis, Calbayog City with telephone number (063) 055 209 1395.
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Photos courtesy of DOST-Samar PSTC
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