DAVAO REGION, August 1, 2023 – To help boost cardava banana production in rural areas of Davao Occidental, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Davao Region started training two (2) farmers associations (FAs) on the propagation of high-quality banana, good agronomic practices, pest and diseases management, harvest and postharvest management, and marketing.

The FAs trained and slated for the upcoming project, both from Davao Occidental, are PALACACA Farmers, Fisherfolk Vendors Association in Sarangani, and Baybay Culaman Farm and Fisherworkers Association in Jose Abad Santos, consisting of 25 beneficiaries each.

“Dako kaayo ni nga tabang sa amoang panginabuhian, tungod ani, nakatuon ko ug daghan – sa pagtanom, pag-maintain sa saging” (This is a big help to us, because of this I have learned a lot with regards to the planting and maintaining the banana plant), Mr. Danny Boy Medina, a member of PALACACA said.

SAAD Davao Region’s Community Development Officer Cecilio Sangines led and facilitated the training.

The program allotted more than Php 2.8 million for the cardava banana production project. Each FA will be granted 15,000 banana plantlets which will cover 15-hectare land, 189 sacks of fertilizers, and 15 bottles of pesticides. In addition, the program will also provide relevant agri-tools including 20 blue drums and 200 plastic crates for water and postharvest storage. 

As of writing, the cardava plantlets have been delivered on the ground for acclimatization. Additional supplies for the project are expected to be distributed before the third quarter of the year ends.

The livelihood project hopes to increase the production of cardava in both areas. In Sarangani, an island municipality, cardava banana is one high-value crop that needs boosting. Both paired with the layer chicken project, the integrated projects aim to create community-based enterprises (CBEs) out of the FAs in three years’ time. 

Both municipalities belong to the list of the top third poorest municipalities based on the Philippine Statistics Authority 2018 Poverty Incidence Report.

“Atoang projects karon, giisa na – naay hayop ug tanom nga mukumplemento sa usag-usa. Ingon ana atoang pamaagi para paghuman nila ug tanom, dili lang sila maghulat sa abot, naa silay adlaw-adlaw nga amomahon nga makahatag pud sa ilaha ug dugang panginabuhian,” Ms. Bernalyn Briones from SAAD Davao Region said. 

(Our projects now, are integrated – there is an animal component as well as a crop component. They will complement each other. It is the approach so that after our beneficiaries have finished planting the crops, they will have day-to-day activities to tend to like the animals, which could also be a means of additional income).

“Tumong ug tinguha sa atoang programa tung una pa nga makatabang sa atoang mga mag-uuma. Kaning atong training, apil ni sa atoang ipanghatag sa ilaha para mas mapabaskog ilang kaalam,” Ms. Naomi Lamata, Alternate Assistant Regional Focal, emphasized.

(It has been the thrust [of the program] to help our farmers. This training is part of our livelihood project, to strengthen their knowledge and worthiness to receive the project.)

With an expected 30 hectares consolidated planting area, the production should come to fruition in a year and a half after planting, with 18.75 metric tons of cardava harvests. ###

Writer: James Brian R. Flaga, DA-SAAD Davao Region Information Officer
Source: DA-SAAD Davao Region