The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc., which is engaged in
production and promotion of community-based lemon grass oil, is now aiming to
penetrate international market for food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
industries.
Aladino Moraca, AIDFI executive director, said being one of the winners of
the Philippine BiD Challenge 2007 that recognized the 10 best business ideas in
the country, will help them in the promotion and marketing lemon grass oil
abroad.
Lemon grass oil is extensively used a source of perfumery and as an
ingredient in making soap and hair care products. It is also known for its
pharmaceutical purposes because of its anti-infection and anti-fungal effect.
AIDFI has two community-based factories in Cauayan and Escalante City, Negros
Occidental.
The lemon grass oil production project aims to construct three more
community-based essential oil factories using appropriate technologies and
practical approaches in creating sustainable livelihood and alternative sources
of income for poor upland communities in Negros Occidental.
Moraca said AIDFI produces lemon grass oil through stem distillation in
partnership with poor upland communities in Cauayan and Escalante City.
He said that AIDFI conducted three years of research on the design of the
extractor or distiller, management, community organizing approaches and
marketing to guarantee the smooth operation of the enterprise.
Operations of the essential oil plant is handled by a trained community
operator who is in-charge of the boiling while each farmer-beneficiary takes
part in the production, harvesting of their lemon grass and hauling to the
factory for boiling.
Moraca said AIDFI ensures good quality of the product by strictly following
the standard process as a requirement in producing organic lemon grass oil.
