Los Baños, Laguna—With the use of a geographic information system, experts have found that Compostela Valley and Basilan as high potential areas for planting rubber and cacao.
A study conducted by Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan of the College of Forestry Resources and Institute of Renewable and Natural Resources of University of the Philippines at Los Baños found the two provinces as potential areas for the commodities.
The study, “Geographic information System –based inventory and sustainability for rubber and cacao in major production areas of the Philippines” is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.
Compostela Valley recorded 29.8 percent of the area that has high potential for planting rubber, followed by North Cotabato with 20.8 percent. Zamboanga Sibugay, which currently has 66,484 hectares of plantation, has the largest area planted with rubber.
“This is followed by North Cotabato, with 59,387 hectares of land planted with rubber,” Bantayan told newsmen during the PCAARRD’s regular media conference for its researches in collaboration with other institutions held at DoST-PCAARRD Innovation and Technology Center in this town.
“Basilan, on the other hand, recorded 10.7 percent of the area that has high potential for planting cacao, followed by Davao Oriental with 10.1 percent. At present, Davao Oriental records 6,920 hectares of cacao plantation, which is the highest total area planted with cacao. Compostela Valley follows with 5,879 hectares of land planted with cacao,” he added.
“The possible expansion areas were identified through important parameters for habitat suitability and niche modelling. Specifically, the potential areas were identified by assessing the area’s rainfall, temperature, slope, elevation, land cover, and quality of soil,” Bantayan said.
The sites studied under the project included Agusan del Sur, Basilan, Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Palawan, and Zamboanga Sibugay.
About 30 newsmen attended the science research media conference.
