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E-mailThe Department of Agriculture (DA) is spending P250 million to boost the production of pili nuts, abaca and coconut in the Bicol region, said the DA’s regional technical director for operations Marilyn Sta. Catalina.
Pili nut, abaca, and coconut are Bicol’s top three commercial crops, but production has recently suffered due to last year’s typhoons, lack of technology and infrastructure support, and low budgetary assistance.
Through the DA’s Locally Funded Indigenous Crops Program, and in partnership with the Fiber Development Authority (FiDA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), root crops and planting equipment will be made available for massive replanting in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.
In addition to procuring planting materials, the DA plans to establish 1,155 technology-demonstration and orchard farms for pili throughout Bicol, and to distribute organic fertilizers and soil ameliorants. Pili is the region’s top export and accounts for 82 percent of the country’s pili production.
The boosting of abaca production, to be headed by FiDA, will focus on disease eradication and rehabilitation of crops that have fallen to the bunchy-top and mosaic-disease virus. Both diseases seriously threaten abaca production as bunchy-top disease prevents the plant from bearing fruit, while the mosaic virus renders the fruit inedible and kills the plant.
Meanwhile, the production of coconut, to be headed by the PCA, will involve the distribution of 225,000 quality planting materials to cover 1,500 hectares across Bicol, as well as the establishment of four new nurseries.
The launching of the project will take place on February 10 in Tabaco City, Albay, and will be marked by the distribution of the planting materials to farmers and landowners.
“We are also going to provide soil-analysis services, market-development support, conduct trainings, extension and information support services, research and development and monitoring, and evaluation of the program’s progress,” said Sta. Catalina.
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