Monday, October 01, 2007 S. Cotabato eyes more areas for fruit plantations By Allen V. Estabillo
KORONADAL CITY--The Provincial Government of South Cotabato plans to open at least 2,500 hectares of fruit plantations in various parts of the province within the next three years as part of its effort to help build up the province's fruit industry.
Reynaldo Legaste, South Cotabato chief agriculturist, said the Provincial Government had targeted to develop at least 10,000 hectares of new fruit plantations within the province's 10 municipalities until the year 2010.
"Right now, we have already opened 7,500 hectares and we're hoping to complete our target before the 2010 deadline," he said.
Legaste they have so far helped develop 4,000 hectares of mango plantations, 2,000 hectares for durian, and 1,500 hectares for various fruit-trees, such as, rambutan, lanzones, avocado and pomelo.
The Provincial Government earlier identified municipalities traversed by the Roxas mountain range as primary target areas for the development of the fruit plantations.
They also tapped several areas of Barangay Ned in Lake Sebu town, which was earlier identified among the viable agribusiness areas in the province.
Legaste urged residents who want to embark on planting fruit trees to just coordinate with their office.
"To those who want to plant fruit trees, just coordinate with our office so that you will know what fruit- bearing trees are best suited in your area because we have finished our mapping on crop suitability," he said.
Legaste said they will provide the seedlings for the fruit trees through the provincial government's demonstration farm in Banga.
He advised farmers who do not have the capacity to purchase the fruit-bearing tree seedlings to avail of their "plant now, pay later" program.
Under this scheme, he said farmers may avail of seedlings that are suitable for their farms from the demo farm and just pay them back when they start to earn from them or when they already have the capacity to pay for them.
"We produce around 100,000 grafted seedlings each year and 80 percent of directly this goes to the plant now, pay later program," he added.
