DAR teaches farmers how to extract oil from flowers
- Bicolmail Web Admin
- May 31
- 2 min read
By Sally Atento-Altea
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay --- Once left to wilt and go to waste, Sampaguita flowers in Barangay Bobonsuran, Ligao City, are now bringing new hope and income to local farmers.
Farmers from the Ligao-Oas Consolidated Irrigators Association (LOCIA) Inc., an organization of agrarian reform beneficiaries supported by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Albay, have found a new purpose for their Sampaguita plants: producing essential oil and rub.
“Our Sampaguita flowers now have a new purpose and will not go to waste. This is a great opportunity for us to generate additional income,” shared Rosyl Rabe, secretary of LOCIA.
Sampaguita once flourished in the area, primarily used for making garlands. However, as the demand for garlands declined, the flowers were left unused. Instead of allowing them to go to waste, the community identified a development opportunity.
With the support of DAR’s Program Beneficiaries Development Division, under its Enterprise Development and Economic Support (EDES) 2025 Product Development Project, a two-part skills training was conducted to teach farmers how to add value to their Sampaguita products.
Thirty members of LOCIA completed training on creating Sampaguita-based rubs and massage oils.
The training was led by health and wellness advocate Louise Cynthia Matza from IQMK Global Philippines. She guided participants on using natural ingredients such as menthol crystals, beeswax, petrolatum, and cellular oil in combination with Sampaguita flowers.
“What’s great about this is that I developed the procedure myself. I studied it for a long time to ensure maximum health benefits. There’s an immediate effect once you inhale the products,” she said.
As a result of the training, the group produced 100 pieces of Sampaguita rubs and 50 bottles of massage oil. Each rub is sold for ₱70, and each oil for ₱170.
These products are available in the community, at the DAR Albay office, and will soon be showcased at trade fairs and on online platforms for a wider reach.
The DAR provided initial funding of ₱15,000 for the project, which covered training materials, equipment, raw materials, and other production needs.
In addition to product development, the farmers learned good manufacturing practices, including packaging, basic design, and marketing. These skills are essential for preparing their products for mainstream markets.
With this initiative, what was once an oversupply of unused flowers is now blossoming into a valuable source of livelihood, empowering farmers and revitalizing the Sampaguita of Bobonsuran. (PIA5/Albay)
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