THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and Energy Development Corp. (EDC) are putting in P92 million to develop a 2,000-hectare mountain range in Tongonan surrounding Ormoc City and Kananga town. The massive project called Agri-Pinoy, the integrated and diversified program will last for five years and will benefit at least 5,600 farmers from 23 farmers’ associations.
The focus would be on land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, processing, and marketing of high value vegetables. Among the vegetables being currently planted are cabbages, green onions, tomatoes, eggplants, radishes, chayote, cucumber, and pineapples. These will be enhanced by planting crops, durian, rambutan, jackfruits, coffee and abaca. As such, the concept is to turn Ormoc and Kananga areas into a major “salad bowl.”
From the allocation, the DA will use P29 million to put up a consolidation center and pilot packaging facility. Beneficiary farmers will also be given marketing support. Another P13 million will also be used for research and development into new farming techniques and plant development.
EDC will also provide P50 million for farmer financing. This will be divided to P10 million per year for the next five years. The beneficiaries will come from seven barangays in Kananga and nine barangays in Ormoc.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the five-year project should improve the lives of poor farmers by having them learn some entrepreneurship skills. Having local farmers turn themselves into businessmen would also improve the region’s economic status. By Alexander Villafania(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 9-15, 2012)
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