Friday, June 01, 2007 P43M released to fund agri projects in Davao
THE Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (Acef), has released more than P43 million to fund three agribusiness projects in Davao Region.
Acef is a special funding window created to help farmers' group and agribusiness enterprise compete locally and globally under liberalized trade.
Acef consists of the in-quota tariffs collected from the importation of the Minimum Access Volume (MAVs) of agricultural products.
The three approved Acef projects in Davao region are: rehabilitation of 1) dendrobium production project of Mackence Demafeliz in Tugbok District, Davao City; 2) enhancement of goat production (meat type) project of Domingo Vergara, Jr. in Barangay Mamali, Mati, Davao Oriental; and 3) upgrading and expansion of milkfish fingerling production project of Bienvenida Rehfeld in Barangay Busaon, Tagum City in Davao del Norte.
The dendrobium production project will have an Acef assistance of P13.5 million and a proponent's equity of P6 million.
The funds will be used to establish packing house, acquire air-con delivery van, and establish greenhouse, packing shed with sorting area, and procurement of planting materials.
For the enhancement of meat type goat production, the Acef assistance amounted to P11 million with proponents' equity of P5 million.
The funds will be used for the development of pasture area, construction of goat shed, slaughterhouse with laboratory, cold storage and packing area, including procurement of delivery van and slaughtering equipment.
The upgrading and expansion of milkfish fingerling production on the other hand will have an Acef assistance of P15 million with a proponents equity of 28 million.
The funds will be used in upgrading and renovating existing ponds, irrigation systems, pump stations, rehabilitation of roads and procurement of fishing gear, fishpond equipment, and feed supply.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap in a simple turnover ceremony held recently in Davao City said Acef is one of the measures the government has instituted to increase agricultural sector's productivity and enable it to achieve higher levels of competitiveness.
Seven additional projects from Davao Region are also in the firm pipeline. These are on banana-lakatan plantation expansion, tissue culture, and chips processing; cutflower, durian plantation, and swine expansion and upgrading.
