To increase the production area by at least 30,000 to 50,000 hectares of the IMTASUMLA (Impasugoo-n, Talakag, Sumilao, and Lantapan) in Bukidnon, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will craft a 5-year developmental plan for the IMTASUMLA Vegetable Complex. This includes improving of product packaging which integrates quality standard of other vegetable producing countries to expand their market not just locally but also internationally.
This was announced by Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol in fulfillment of his commitment to Bukidnon vegetable farmers to widen their agricultural production area.
“We are looking this area as bigger vegetable basket of the country. We will provide every intervention you need but please, produce enough vegetable for the country,” Piñol emphasized.
Meanwhile, the group will be selling their farm produce at much cheaper prices on September 20-21, 2018 at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) compound in Malate, Manila during the department’s monthly activity, TIENDA.
“Magpadala tayo sa Manila at least two container trucks puno ng mga harvested gulay ng IMTASUMLA area,” Piñol said.
While in Bukidnon, Sec. Piñol turned over P28.4 million (M) worth of agri assistance for the municipality of Talakag, Bukidnon on September 14.
This includes P20 million working capital for Miarayon Region Farmers, 4 farm tractors (2 units of 100 horsepower (hp) 4WD farm tractor & 2 unts of 35 hp mini 4WD farm tractor), 10 heads of draft animals with farm implements (4 carabao upgraded female, 1 carabao upgraded male, 4 cattle upgraded female, and 1 cattle upgraded male), 50 kilograms adlay seeds, 100 bags of organic fertilizer, 20 bags of complete fertilizer, 5 bags of urea, 1,000 pieces of plastic crates, and construction of Spring Development Project valued at P600,000.
Also, Sec. Piñol allotted P300 million for the implementation of Production Loan Easy Access credit program in the IMTASUMLA area and 15 heads of draft animals (5 carabao heifer breeder upraded and 10 heads of cattle bull breeder upgraded.
“The DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) to allot additional P150 M for Talakag, and P50 M each for the municipalities of Impasugoo-n, Sumilao, and Lantapan,” Pinol directed ACPC.
Piñol also committed establishment of vegetable farming school in Talakag and directed DA-10 to identify 3 farmer leaders to be sent in Minamikamura, Japan for a training on vegetable farmingas his Christmas present.
“When I come back I would like to see how your lives change,” Piñol said. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
