Tiger grass is the raw material used in the manufacture of softbroom. This grass grows abundantly in the hillside slopes of Manito in Albay. Manito is located east of Albay, elevated as plateau facing Legaspi City on the West Albay Gulf and surrounded by mountains on the east and north. Travel to Manito by land - 2 hours trip- from Legaspi City offers the travellers a sight of profusely growing grasses 2 meters high, with stalks of about 70 cm long and panicles that are yellowish-green in color which can be passed on as grasses with no value at all. Getting nearer the poblacion one is greeted by a display of brooms hanged outside small houses for sale to walk-in customers.
The highland of Manito makes it perfect for grass farming as the plant thrives well on higher elevation. For persons who are unaware of the value of the grass, this grass supports the livelihood of the farmers in 14 barangays of Manito. Many families who make softbroom for livelihood highly depend in this grass. For them the grass is life. The grass does not grow wild; they are planted and nurtured like any other agricultural crop.

Manito has 686 hectares of tiger grass cultivated by 686 farmers. Farmers start to plant this crop on the onset of the rainy season and harvest after one year. Planting materials cost P1.50 to P2.00 per clump (3-4 pcs per clump). A hectare requires 625 pieces planting materials at a planting distance of 4x 4 m. Fertilizer is applied to enhance plant growth and flowering. The application is done at least a month after planting at 10 grams per rootstock or clump placed 16 cm away from the plant. Fertilization is maintained at least once a year for better quality yield.

Harvesting of panicles is done while still green for easy cleaning and removal of the seeds. It is cut about 90% of its height to enduce more tillers to develop. After cutting, the panicles are removed from the stem, sundried for 2-3 days and cleaned of their seeds by shaking or parting lightly against hard objects. The panicles are then bundled and delivered to the broom makers.

The residents of Manito have already perfected the art of making softbroom. It is a home industry involving the family members. At present, production of softbroom is limited because of lack of capital and marketing is done by individual producer making them susceptible to unscrupulous traders who manipulate prices of brooms. Budgetary constraints is also the limiting factor of the LGU to pump in the needed capital to increase productivity and profitability of the industry.

By organizing the farmers in the 14 softbroom producing barangays into what is now called San Rafael Development Cooperative (SARDECO), it has gathered force and strength. The coop has envisioned to establish a production center, produce quality brooms known to the local and foreign markets and prop up rural employment. Wanting of a big capital to increase the productivity and profitability of the coop members, the coop sourced funds from the Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program of Department of Agriculture -National Agricultural and Fishery Council.

From the LEAD program, the coop has received P199,850.00 to finance its softbroom project. The amount is interest free and payable in three years. Nilo Castuera, agricultural technician and designated coop and rural based organization coordinator of Manito declares the coop expects to produce 12,500 brooms per cycle (2 months) or 75,000 brooms per year. It intends to capture 3% of the 2,478,000 total production in the municipality, of which 80% will be marketed to Metro Manila and the remaining 20% to local markets. The industry has its highs and lows. It has its lean and peak months. March, April, May, June are the peak months for tiger grass or lasa production. During these period, the coop buys big volume of lasa from members and non-members for storage, so that comes the lean period, they will not run short of materials.Fresh lasa cost P20-25 per bundle (the size of a beer bottle) and dried lasa costs P80.00 per bundle.

The former coop chairperson Evelyn Logronio says they can get 1,000 bundles per year per hectare. One bundle can produce 5-6 pieces of ordinary brooms and 3 pieces special broom. The ordinary is sold at P18.00 per piece while the special is sold at P50.00 to P100.00 per piece. She explains, the thin brooms (less panicles used) “we call the ordinary, while the thick ones (more panicles used) with design in the handle or have decorative weave near the base of the broom into a fanlike form we call special.” The latter commands higher price compared to the ordinary where the handle is made out of plain wooden stick or the handle is wrapped with plastic strips bearing the name of the coop. There are brooms where the handle is made out of plastic rattan strips with design. They also make personalized brooms by order. The handle bears the name SARDECO, Manito, Albay and a picture of Mayon Volcano.

Delivery of assorted brooms to Manila and the local market is done once a week. There are traders who picked up their brooms packed in bundles.

The process of making softbroom involves arranging elongated axis. Part of the elongated axis, forming branches on the panicles are detached and tied back to the same panicles, levelling the ends of the branches. Three to four arranged panicles are tied together to form a small bundle. About 20-30 small bundles are tied together to form one big bundle. The stem of the big bundle is bound by wire to serve as handle of the broom. The stem forming the handle is wrapped with plastic rattan or plain colored plastic strips. A wooden stick is inserted at the end of the bundle and another is hammered between the base of the broom to reinforce the strength of the handle and the broom itself. A tie wire is used to hand sew the panicles near the base of the broom into fanlike form.

Softbroom is an important household paraphernalia. The demand for the product is projected to increase with the ever increasing population, and institutions like schools, hospitals, offices. Besides the manufacture of softbroom, SARDECO is also exploring at producing other products that will add value to the tiger grass like home decor.

With the potential of the industry and with the intense support of government agencies, and the local government unit, the coop is bent to seeing its members improve their standard of living and savor a brisk business contributing to the economic uplift of the community.#
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Source:
UMAsenso
Official publication of the Department of Agriculture RFU 5
Vol. 14 No. 4
October-December 2005