1st banana harvest festival held

Thursday 14th of June 2012

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao, June 14 (PIA) -- The first banana harvest festival was held on June 7 in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

The festival was held in a 35-hectare planation of the “Lakatan” variety of the EKA Salam Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative in Sitio Sabaduan, Kauran in Ampatuan.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) initiated the festival, through the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), one of the banner programs of the agriculture department encouraging farmers to engage in the production of high yielding variety of crops such as mango, durian, coconut and banana as a source of livelihood.

National Program Coordinator Jennifer Remoquillo emphasized that huge income is generated in planting bananas. She cited HVCDP’s support to farmers’ associations in terms of irrigation, provision of quality planting materials, training on proper product packaging and in market matching or identification of potential buyers.

According to EKA Salam Multipurpose Cooperative chair Ebrahim Adam, 2,500 banana trees are planted per hectare with the yield of 45 tons per hectare in about six to nine months after planting, generating a weekly net income of P145,000, attesting huge income they derived from banana production.

Remoquillo said, EKA Salam will now serve as DA’s partner in the advancement of HVCDP adding the potential of Ampatuan town to become one of the areas with wide and productive banana plantation in Maguindanao.

Citing the need for cooperation and hard work coupled with perseverance, she encouraged other farmers to unite and organize themselves into a cooperative, study and decide on a livelihood endeavor they agree to venture with the support of concerned agencies of the government.

Meanwhile, responding to the calls of agriculture officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the more than 80 farmer-members of EKA Salam agreed to share their experiences and transfer the acquired knowledge and technology to other willing and interested farmers.

The attendance of DA-ARMM officials led by Director for Field Operations Kalunsiang Dimalen, Maguindanao Provincial Agricultural Officer Salik Panalunsong, as well as P4MP Regional President Datu Yamashita Mangcop representing governor Toto Mangundadatu, municipal councilor Datu Penz Magelna, some media, EKA Salamam Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and residents in the community ensured a successful harvest festival. (RAFID/ARMM/DED/PDC-PIA12 Cotabato City)