Thursday, June 26, 2008 Davao Norte leads in lowland vegetable production
DAVAO del Norte is making headway as the region's producer of lowland vegetables.
Taking advantage of favorable climate and access to markets, the Provincial Government is strengthening the production and consumption of vegetables to reduce poverty and malnutrition.
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the province is currently implementing the vegetable enhancement program of the DA's GMA-high value commercial crops program.
The program seeks to address wide-ranging gaps from pre-production to market support development and to institutionalize mechanisms needed to ensure that targets would be reached on schedule.
DA-Southern Mindanao regional executive director Roger Chio said his office has provided P1 million intended for essential support services such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
The fund was made available to the vegetable farmers on a plant-now-pay-later scheme.
The Davao del Norte Vegetable Industry Development Council (DNVIDC) is entrusted to collect the payment from the farmers.
Chio, who was the guest speaker during the opening of the province founding anniversary celebration, said the vegetable expansion program in Davao del Norte covers a total of 116 hectares.
These are mostly in the towns of Asuncion, New Corella, and Panabo City.
Vegetables grown in these areas are mostly the pinakbet type such as ampalaya, eggplant, string beans, and okra.
"When we speak of major vegetable producers in Region XI, ang kaagad nababanggit ay ang Maragusan sa ComVal at Kapatagan sa Davao del Sur. But with the vegetable enhancement program, it will not long the Davao del Norte will be a major producer of vegetables in the region," Chio said.
Anticipating the increase in vegetable production, the DA has recently turned over P1-million check in support to the bagsakan center established by the city government of Tagum.
The bagsakan, which is located at the city's public market, aims to absorb the increase in vegetable production.
"Through the bagsakan center, vegetable farmers can deliver their produce and sell it directly to consumers or traders. Farmers are expected to earn higher as unnecessary layers in marketing are eliminated," Chio said.
To caution the negative impact of high cost of fertilizers DA is encouraging the farmers to use organic fertilizer. With this, DA has also turnover a shedder machine to help farmers in the production of organic fertilizers.
DA-HVCC regional coordinator Melani Provido meanwhile said that Davao del Norte is being tap to supply vegetables in Metro Manila.
The province, she said, can supply at least 10 metric tons of vegetable per week. "This is an opportunity for the farmers in the province to take advantage of the high demand of vegetables in Metro Manila as most of the production areas in Luzon had been damaged by the recent typhoon Frank," said Provido.
