THE Department of Agriculture (DA) gathered the key implementers of the Ormoc-Kananga (OK) Upland Range Development Program for a two-day Orientation and Project Proposal Writeshop to orient them on certain standards required in packaging research and development activities as set forth by funding agencies like the Bureau of Agricultural Research.
DA Regional Executive Director Antonio G. Gerundio in his welcome address informed that initial activities have been started and some logistic support are already in place to transform the Tongonan mountain range into a major grower of semi-temperate vegetables and high value crops. But to ensure sustainability of our programs and services and to systematize everything we need to translate all this into viable and doable proposals,” he explained.
The OK Upland Range project is a public-private partnership arrangement between DA and Energy Development Corp. Both agencies have pledged P92 million to develop suitable areas surrounding the Leyte Geothermal Production Field to provide livelihood to about 5,600 farmers.
The area covers 107,625 hectares along the Tongonan mountain range spanning across 16 barangays in Ormoc and Kananga town. Subsistence farmers there grow assorted vegetables and fruits like cabbage, green onion, tomato, eggplant, radish, chayote, cucumber and pineapple. About five tons are harvested weekly and sold at the public markets of Ormoc and Kananga.
Under the five-year project, farmers will be encouraged to plant other fruit crops like durian, rambutan and jackfruit as well as coffee and abaca. National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) will assist farmers in land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, processing, and marketing of vegetables and other high value commercial crops.
Of the P92 million funding, Nabcor will share P29 million to build a consolidation center and pilot packinghouse, and provide marketing support. Another P13 million is earmarked for research and development.
Participants of the two-day activity include technical experts from Visayas State University and EDC namely Dr. Jun Acedo, Prof. Pasky Quirol, Dr. Lito Bestil, Dr. Tony Abamo, Dr.Tony Quimio, Mario Sumabat,. Jojo Paredes, etc. Also present are Rufino B. Ayaso III, Raul T. Repulda, Dr. Carlos de la Cruz and Dr. Veronica J. Berenguer, all of DA-Regional Field Unit 8.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 27-Mar. 4, 2012)
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