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THE
Department of Agriculture (DA) is setting aside P90
million to boost the production, consumption and
commercial use of root crops like sweet potatoes and
cassava.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said his agency is
partnering with state universities and colleges (SUCs)
and local government units (LGUs) in implementing the
initiative. The project will be spearheaded by the
Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA)-High Value Commercial
Crops (HVCC) program.
GMA-HVCC
national program coordinator Dr. Rene Rafael Espino said
that under the project, the DA will provide funds to
SUCs to maintain areas for farmers as sources of
planting materials for root crops.
LGUs,
meanwhile, will partner with the DA in locating
communities suitable for planting these root crops,
particularly in areas where such food products are the
staple.
The
National Rootcrops Planting Program, which was drawn up
by the Bureau of Agricultural Research, will be launched
soon at the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan,
Cotabato.
“Higher
production is a must, considering that many communities
rely on these root crops as their food staple, and
agribusiness companies usually use them as sources for
their starch and carbohydrate raw materials,” said Yap.
Moreover, root crops, which are nutritious energy
sources, can be locally grown in less favorable or
marginal areas, he said. Through the Bureau of Plant
Industry, the DA will support the project by providing
virus-free planting materials, training on new
technologies, technical aid to farmers, information
campaign to promote the consumption of root crops as a
food staple and seed fund for the DA-LGU partnership to
promote root-crops gardening.
The
project will focus on the planting of cassava, yam and
taro in selected commercial areas and sweet potato in
commercial areas of Central Luzon, Bataan and selected
areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. |
