UP, Capitol ink MOA for agri dev't.

The Provincial Government, the University of the Philippines (UP) and the UP Los Banos Alumni Foundation of Negros Occidental signed Thursday at the Governor's Office the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Sustainable Agri-Livestock Technology (SALT) Training and Extension Program for the region.

The program is in support of the agricultural development program to ensure food security under the provincial government's "Negros First" agenda.

The training and extension program of UPLB College of Agriculture will showcase and promote economically and ecologically viable agricultural production practices for demonstration, training, use and eventual transfer of technology to intended communities.

Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. said the provincial government will provide the financial support for the program as well as identify the program beneficiaries.

UPLB College of Agriculture has research and extension facilities known as the UPLBCA Research and Training Station located in La Granja, La Carlota City. The facilities include training halls, dormitory, animal pens, and 250 hectares of agricultural land.

Under the MOA, the province and UP will jointly implement and support the creation of the province's SALT program through the supervised use and development of the said property.

UP Chancellor Dr. Luis Rey Velasco said the university had offered the same partnership with several Local Government Units (LGUs) in the past. He added that he appreciates Maranon's move for such partnership.

Under the MOA, the Provincial Government shall undertake the construction of necessary additional structures and the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing training halls, dormitory and such other existing facilities at the UPLBCA research and training station.

It shall also provide all the necessary inputs, such as cattle and other livestock, feeds, medicines, machineries, equipments, seeds and other planting materials, fertilizers, and crop protection measures.

Negros Occidental's economy is still agriculture-based. The total family income in the province is P43.6 million, based on the family income and expenditure survey conducted in 2000.

The biggest source of income is "other services" industries with P18.1 million, followed by agriculture with P10.3 million which account for almost 24 percent of the total family income.

Of the 792,607 hectares total land area of Negros Occidental, about 67 percent representing 531,017 hectares is devoted to agriculture. (Teresa Ellera-Dulla)