DA disburses P41M for Compostela Valley

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has turned over P41 million in rehabilitation assistance to growers of high-value crops in Compostela Valley which was ravaged by Typhoon Pablo last December.

Assistance was provided to growers of bananas, cacao, coffee and rubber.

The financial assistance to farmers is part of the commitment of the DA through Task Force Alayon which was formed to help farmers recover their livelihood.

“Most of the affected farmers in the province are those tending high-value crops such as cacao, banana, coffee, and rubber. We have to immediately provide them assistance so they can recover from such huge losses,” said DA regional director for Davao Remelyn Recoter.

The DA turned over the funding support to the provincial government last week. A tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) was also signed between the DA, the provincial government of Campostela Valley and the private sector to fast track various agriculture interventions.

Of the total amount, P21.85 million was allotted for banana growers, P13.12 million for cacao growers, P3 million for coffee growers, and P3 million for rubber growers.

The DA also distributed P2 million worth of seeds for replanting. The department will also provide technical assistance and access to other farm inputs such as fertilizers.

The financial assistance will be the counterpart funding of the local government of Campostela Valley for rehabilitation measures undertaken by farmers with the private sector.

Agriculture assistant secretary Dante Delima, who heads the task force, earlier said that Kennemer Foods International Inc, a producer and marketer of agricultural products, is eyeing 500 hectares of cacao growing areas in Campostella Valley.

The local government of Davao Oriental and the DA field unit in Region XI have signed a memorandum of agreement with Kennemer Foods for an undercropping program for cacao beans in 500 hectares of damaged coconut plantations in the province.

Kennemer Foods is a producer and marketer of agricultural products that currently supply the cacao needs of US-based Mars Chocolate.

The company, as the buyer of the produce, would institute quality control measures for the processing of the beans which would be bought from farmers at prevailing prices in the world market.

Exportation of cacao to the US is expected to commence after two years.

The DA and the provincial government of Campostela Valley have also formed a partnership with Nestle Philippines for the provision of seedlings, fertilizer, training, and cash for work incentives to farmers.

The DA has also allotted a separate P21.8 million for clearing and rehabilitation works in 4,373 hectares of banana plantations in Campostela Valley.

Because of the destruction caused by Typhoon Pablo to banana crops in Davao region and Campostela Valley, the Philippines postponed the maiden shipment of Cavendish bananas to the US to fulfill export obligations to its premium markets like Japan and Korea.