Friday, November 30, 2007 Farmer coops get P1.9 million assistance
AN INVESTMENT package is now set for farmers in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) to engage in banana-coconut intercropping project.
Through the "Kasagingan sa Kaniyugan" Project, Igacos farmer cooperatives will be given financial assistance of at least P1.9 million for planting tissue-culture cardaba banana under coconut trees including farm inputs.
For farmers to get the maximum production output, additional assistance such as training and technical information will be provided.
The project will also provide marketing assistance to beneficiaries particularly in linking them with banana chips processors in the region.
The "Kasagingan sa Kaniyugan" is a project of the Department of Agriculture-High Value Commercial Crops Program (DA-HVCC) and the local government of Igacos. The Coconut Industry Investment Fund-Oil Mills Group (CIIF-OMG) is funding the project.
CIIF-OMG president Danilo Coranacion said his office supports the banana-coconut intercropping as this kind of business provides a win-win situation for banana and coconut industries.
Coronacion said that while planting banana provides additional income to coconut farmers it also addresses the processors' demand for banana.
"This in turn helps boost the coconut industry as coconut oil is being used in banana processing," he said.
Coronacion added that since the threat of coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa longgissima) -- the new pest in coconut is now alarming, planting more bananas is recommended.
A recent study shows that an earwig, the natural predator for Brontispa, can thrive well in banana trees.
While the CIIF-OMG will finance the farm inputs of P5,000 for every farmer that would go into banana-coconut intercropping, the payment will not be in cash but through copra product which the farmer will deliver to accredited oil mills.
In Davao del Norte and nearby provinces, the farmers can deliver their copra through Legaspi Oil in Davao City.
The banana-coconut intercropping in Igacos is the first pilot site of DA's "Kasagingan sa Kaniyugan" project.
DA Regional Director Roger Chio said his office is now coordinating with LGU officials in Davao Oriental and many have signified their intention to implement the same project in their locality.
