The Department of Agriculture (DA) will launch an agro-forestry program and is eyeing Agusan del Sur as the pilot area where farmers could plant falcata trees, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol has said.
Organized farmers could use credit from the DA’s Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program to purchase seeds from accredited nursery operators, Piñol said.
Farmers could loan a maximum of P25,000 per hectare he said, emphasizing that he would like “agro-forestry to be included as an agricultural activity.”
“We have to encourage farmers to plant more trees,” Piñol told farmers at a forum Thursday in Patin-Ay, Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur.
“I believe that through this program we will not only protect watershed areas but we will provide farmers source of income,” Piñol added.
He immediately ordered DA Regional Executive Director Abel James Monteaguido to determine the farmers’ group that would be tapped to assist farmers and fisherfolk in preparing the required documents for the loaning program.
Piñol further said he would seek a meeting with officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow farmers to plant trees commercially in DENR-designated reforestation areas.
The province, he said, would benefit from the success of the program especially in areas prone to flooding.
Falcata is known to grow very fast, and falcata lumber is lightweight with good resistance to water and oil and high temperature durability.
It is said to be ideal raw material for making wooden matches, wooden pallets and boxes for food and agricultural produces. It is also used as core material for furniture, block boards, and kitchen cabinets, among others.
During the forum, the DA-CARAGA turned over more than P5 million worth of agri-fishery assistance to almost 1,000 farmers and fisherfolk who attended the launching of the Upland Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development (USAD) Farmers’ Day and Agrilympics in line with the 50thFounding Anniversary and 25th Naliyagan Festival of the province.
The P5-million worth of assistance included eight units of rice thresher (P1.03M), two units of mechanical rice transplanter (P650,000), four units of mini warehouse (P2.4M), 500 bags of OPV Corn Seeds (P775,000), three units of power sprayer (P83,154), drugs and biologics for livestock (P28,349), 50 heads of kabir chicks (P2,250), six heads of ewe (P27,000), two heads of ram (P9,000), and 80 heads of ducklings (P3,600).
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also awarded 10 units of fiberglass boats and 1,000 tilapia fingerlings.
They will also conduct fish cage and fisher pond technology demonstration in the coming weeks. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
*** Photo shows Sec. Piñol talking to falcata grower Jimmy Niepes whom he encouraged to participate in the Agro-Forestry Program of DA. (photo by Darius Mangampo)
