Maramag, Bukidnon-based cooperative receives plant nursery project from DA-10.
MARAMAG, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) together with the Philippine Coconut Authority – 10 (PCA-10) turned over a plant nursery to the Narukdukan Kisanday Banana Cassava Corn Farmers Association (NAKBACCOFA) on February 20, in Barangay Kisanday, in this town.
According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the turned-over establishment amounts to a total of P465,001.15, and is eyed to benefit almost 100 farmer-members of said cooperative, consonant with the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Program (CFIDP).
Leading the nursery turnover, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga urged the member-beneficiaries to take on a unified approach to utilize and maintain said establishment, so that it may continuously serve the needs of the community.
Further, she mentioned that the nursery manifests the agency’s commitment and call to farmers to boost income-earning opportunities, foster agricultural development, and promote modernized agriculture under the Department’s ‘One DA’ advocacy.
On behalf of PCA-10 Regional Manager Manuel G. Octobre, PCA Bukidnon division chief Ma. Cherilyn A. Pace congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to comply with the documentary requirements to register as a cooperative, which will allow them to avail of additional funding and support from the DA and PCA for infrastructure and processing needs.
For her part, NAKBACCCOFA president Lilibeth P. Galendez expressed her gratitude for the assistance granted to their organization, citing its significance in increasing their current production and their capacity to follow through with plans to intercrop cacao and Liberica coffee variety under coconut.
Joining the ribbon cutting ceremony were DA Provincial Operations Center – Bukidnon chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, and High Value Crops Development Program focal person Kersten S. Pagalan.
The event was also supported by the Office of the Municipal Vice-Mayor represented by Administrative Assistant VI Roger Olagir, Municipal Agriculturist Armand S. dela Cruz, Punong Barangay Luciano R. Omas-as, and association members.# (GDA)