The city government is planning to develop a 100-hectare farm property in the outskirts of General Santos city for various agriculture-related ventures.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said they have partnered with a group of farmers and landowners for the establishment of production areas for white corn, as well as an agricultural tourism site in Barangay Mabuhay here.
He said the project area covers farmlands in Purok 15 of Barangay Mabuhay that is owned by members of the Manero clan.
The mayor said the clan had signified willingness to allow their land to be used by the local government for agricultural development.
The Manero family has issued a certificate of commitment to the city government to serve as co-partner in the development of an initial 5 hectares of the site for agricultural tourism.
“The site is ideal for white corn production and other major crops,” Rivera said in a statement.
Rivera said they have initially linked up with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 to facilitate the development of the area starting next year for white corn production.
He said DA-12 has enlisted the project under its flagship Agri-Pinoy Corn Program and other related initiatives.
Through assistance from the DA, the City Agriculture Office recently delivered various inputs for around 52 hectares of farmlands.
These include 52 bags of open-pollinated white corn seeds, 260 bags of fertilizer and 260 packs of Bio-N.
Aside from Barangay Mabuhay, the DA has also signified to assist the development of white corn production areas in three more barangays in the city.
The local government had identified portions of barangays San Jose, Tinagacan and Upper Labay as viable sites for white corn production.
The DA has been promoting white corn as alternative or extender to rice, with focus on its health benefits.
The agency said white corn consumption has grown significantly these past several years, specifically in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao where 20 percent of the population consume the commodity as the main staple.
PNA