SORSOGON AGRO-AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE
A Small Cooperative with a Big Heart
A Glance to our History. . .
The Sorsogon Agro-Aquatic Development Cooperative (SAADECO) was established by farmers and fisherfolks of Barangay Gimalloto and neighboring barangays in the year 1988. It began as a very small group composed of smallholder farmers and fisherfolks in the area. SAADECO started as an association which later on evolved and developed as a cooperative catering to the needs of the members by providing inputs and post-harvest facilities for rice production.
On January 28, 1988, the cooperative was then registered under the Bureau of Agriculture Cooperatives of the Department of Agriculture with Registration No. RV-FF-137. After conforming and complying with the documentary requirements, SAADECO obtained its registration with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on March 26, 1991 with Registration No. 9520-05010787.
SAADECO’s Current Operation and Status…
At present, the cooperative is still providing several services to its members which include rice retailing, palay trading, pre and post-harvest facilities and services, farm inputs loan and microfinance services. Its current paid up share capital amounts to P221,600 as of December 2020. Its operations have expanded province wide while its members have expanded to other neighboring barangays of Peñafrancia, Barayong, Guinlajon and Cambulaga. It has a total membership of 161 small holder farmers, fisherfolks, agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBS) and farmworkers benefiting from the services of the cooperative.
With the development in farm mechanization technologies, excellent internal and external management and sustainable linkages with various government agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the City and Provincial Government of Sorsogon, SAADECO endeavors to sustain its growth and development. The efficient management of their available resources like environmental, financial and human capital, they can foresee a brighter future and holistic development for the cooperative, its members, their families and the community as a whole.
Our coop’s active response to Covid19 Pandemic. . .
In the event of Covid-19 pandemic, SAADECO provided its assistance to various members and front liners of the barangay through the distribution of rice relief.
SAADECO has not experienced worries to finance its programs especially their marketing and services operations with members and non-members. The harvesting season was so timely and favored our coop for it was able to address the needs of the members during the pandemic lockdown which started in the month of March of the previous year.
The palay harvest and rice production has indeed supported the needs of its members, the cooperative’s need for capital to sustain its operations, and the increased demand of purchase from entrepreneurs and local government units for their food relief distribution.
During the month of April 2020, SAADECO has distributed food packs to its 126 members and by the first week of May 2020, it has distributed 6 sacks of rice to front liners in its three adjacent barangays – Pamurayan, Barayong and Gimaloto.
With its continuous aid and efforts for development and adaptation to changes, the cooperative has developed linkages with other agri-coops engaged in palay and rice production to help and assist in various marketing strategies that will enable them to cope up with the present worsening economic situation. As an agriculture cooperative, it understands the challenges of its members and the people at large especially in this situation. It also sees the need and demand of food of each and every household that is why it continues to strive for development in order to provide help to the people especially the marginalized sector in any manner that can prevent hunger in this pandemic.
A small cooperative as it was categorized, but it surely does have a big heart!
-o0o-
