Los Baños, Laguna”•The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) aims to upgrade production of primary commodities in Bicol region though science and technology researches.
In partnership with Bicol Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development production of three basic commodities namely coconut, sweet potato, and queen pineapple, in the region is being improved, said PCAARRD Applied Communication Division Director Marita Carlos in a presentation to newsmen here.
She said farmers recounted their success stories adopting the science and technology-based farming during the conduct of Farmers Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda at Farmers Bounty Village, Camalig, Albay last month.
She cited the case of farmer Henry Regalario, a graduate of Marine Transportation, who chose to stay on the land to venture into farming of sweet potato. He is currently the president of the Libon Camote Growers Association with 400 active farmer-members in Albay.
Carlos said the farmer shared how he started supplying sweet potato to small-scale enterprises and then managed to produce for big businesses like Ayala Malls.
A coconut farmer, Jerson Lovederio, she said, expressed his appreciation to Bicol University, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and Dignity Products and Services Incorporated (Dignity Coconuts) for productive farming.
She added coconut farmers in the region have been assisted by PCA in science-based farming and the use of hybrid coconut for sustainable farming.
The farmers supply their coconuts to Dignity Coconuts, which in turn manufactured them into coconut oil and coconut water.
Carlos said pineapple farmer Teresita Pasia also recognizes the support of the local government.
A project by the Camarines Norte State College and Visayas State University funded by PCAARRD maximizes the trash from queen pineapple fruit, including leaves, peels, eyes, core, and pomace.
The parts of the queen pineapple can be turned into charcoal briquette or bran, a feed supplement for native chicken.