Wednesday, January 03, 2007 60 hectares corn areas converted to banana sites
THE local government unit (LGU) of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur expanded banana plantations in Barangay Matutungan with the conversion of corn areas to banana sites.
A total of 60 hectares were developed by the planters in the area with a development cost of P2,000 per hectare.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao del Sur said that these efforts of the LGU are in support to the development of the banana chips industry considering that it has an existing banana chips firm located in the municipality and another plant will soon to open this year by another investor.
However, the reclassification of the area from residential to industrial use is now ongoing and the matter was already endorsed by the Provincial land Use Committee for approval by the Provincial Board.
Another banana chips factory was launched two months ago in Sta. Maria known as the Lumain Banana Chips Factory.
The firm invested P1 million in the first fry banana chips business and has generated employment of seven jobs. It has an initial marketing tie-up with a Batangas-based exporter where samples to the buyer were first shipped. The samples were the basis for the placing of its initial order. The plant has a total capacity of 60 tons per month.
On the other hand, a conversion of a coconut plantation into cavendish banana plantation is also ongoing in Basiawan, Sta. Maria. The area has a total of five hectares. (JGRS)
