DAVAO DE ORO (PIA) — The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) XI signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the establishment of a 5.0-hectare coconut seed farm and communal nursery inside Davao de Oro Farm, Brgy. Pasian in Monkayo town.
“There are several crops nga hiyang sa probinsya… kani raman gyud murag pinaka ever resilient nga tanom. So dili pede puro rata kamaisan, kahumayan …. dapat dako pud ang pagtagad niining lubi,” said Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga during the MOA signing at Opisina sa Katawhan Function Hall, Provincial Capitol, May 22.
Gonzaga and PCA XI Regional Manager III Juvy T. Alayon led the signing of MOA to formalize the bond and further help achieve production-market integration which will later benefit the small coconut farmers in the province.
The agreement is part of PCA’s Seed Farm Development Project (SFDP) which aims to help Local Government Units (LGUs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in establishing coconut seed farms. Through this, there will be a significant increase in sources of seed nuts and seedlings in the future, thereby sustaining the coconut planting and replanting program of the authority.
Moreover, the agency is establishing a Communal Nursery as a project component of the Coconut Hybridization Program under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), which intends to grant qualified coconut farmers and would-be coconut farmers of the hybrid coconut seedlings for planting and replanting in their coconut farms.
As a result, PLGU has offered the 5.0 hectares of land within the DDO farm to be developed as a Seed Farm and Nursery to serve the needs of farmers in the province for high-quality planting materials, as well as the intention and willingness to take on the necessary responsibilities.
Gonzaga extended her deep appreciation to PCA XI as the partnership will bring much development to the coconut industry in the province.
“Daghan salamat para niini, very significant undertaking of both the PCA and the province. We look forward for this partnership and we look forward nga ikapanghambog napud sa among katawhan diri that really our government works thru PCA and PAGRO,” the governor said.
Present also at the event were Provincial Agriculturist Jaime Anter, PCA Davao de Oro & del Norte Provincial Director William Mortalla, PCA Acting Senior Agriculturist Vernon P. Dimol, and staff from PAGRO, among others. (PIA Davao de Oro/PR from Davao de Oro Provincial Government)
