Fedco launches another cacao-banana center

THE Cacao-Banana Agri-Enterprise Development (CBAED) project of The Federation of Cooperatives in Mindanao has paid off with the launching of CBEC (Cacao-Banana Extension Center) in Barangay Balaguna, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

The launching was done in partnership with Balagunan Pioneer Multipurpose Cooperative (Bapimco), one of Fedco's CBEC co-operators.

The CBEC, which was launched, recently was only one of the four CBECs under Fedco’s CBAED project in partnership with ACDI/VOCA, which aims to promote the banana-cacao inter-cropping to help small banana growers recover from huge losses due to a downtrend of the industry.

ACDI/VOCA an international non-profit organization that implements the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded CoCoPal(Coconut, Cacao, and Palay) Integrated Farming Systems Project in Mindanao partnered with Fedco to help the small banana growers.

The CBEC also serves as training center of the farmers enrolled with the Farmer Field School (FFS), a component of the CBAED project aimed at teaching farmers the proper technology of growing and producing quality cacaos. The area is planted with Lacatan bananas and 600 cacao seedlings were planted in a one (1) hectare area that serves as a nursery.

The CBAED project in Barangay Balaguna, Sto Tomas started in November 13, 2012. Currently, it has established a nursery, specifically of cacao seedlings, and organic input facility.

FFC beneficiaries in the area have also started applying the banana-cacao intercropping system in their respective farms.

Fedco’s CEO Ireneo D. Dalayon and Bapimco chair Ambrosio T. Gludo led the launching of CBEC in Barangay Balaguna, Sto. Tomas.

Dalayon during the launching shared to the farmers the benefits of banana-cacao inter-cropping and how the CBEC and Fedco could help Bapimco.

Aside from putting up the nursery facilities, Fedco is also looking forward for a partnership with Bapimco on its plan to export fermented cacao beans.

The other three CBECs that were already established with their corresponding co-operators are the following:

CBEC with Magatos Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MARBMCO) as co-operator is in Purok 3, Magastos, Asuncion, Davao del Norte with a total land area of 83 hectares and now fully planted with Cavandish banana. About 600 cacao seedlings were also planted at the five-hectare coop's common area.

CBEC with Wilfredo Olmilla as co-operator in Sitio Poge Pantaron Sto. Tomas Davao del Norte with a total land area of two hectares planted with Cavendish bananas, of which one hectare is intercropped with cacao where about 600 cacao seedlings were planted.

CBEC with Jimmy Estimada as co-operators in Sitio Palibato Kimamon Sto. Tomas Davao del Norte with a total land area of one hectare, fully planted with Cavandish. About 562 seedlings were planted in the area.