ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE (Mindanao Examiner / July 31, 2014) – Limang agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations sa Zamboanga del Norte ang makikinabang sa kasunduan na nilagdaan ng Department of Agrarian Reform sa Western Mindanao at Kennemer Foods International, Inc. para sa pagtatanim ng mga cacao na pangunahing sangkap sa tsokolate.
Sinabi ni DAR regional spokeswoman Maria Socorro Reambonanza na libo-libong magsasaka ang makikinabang sa Cacao Production and Purchase Agreement.
Tinatayang aabot sa 200 ektarya ng lupain sa loob ng Agrarian Reform Communities ang inaasahang matataniman ng cacaob at mismong Land Bank of the Philippines pa ang siyang magpi-finance ng halos P80 milyon loan para sa cacao production sa ilalim ng Agricultural Production Credit Program.
Ayon kay Reambonanza, aasistihan ng DAR ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations sa paghahanda ng mga kakailanganing requirements ng banko.
“The KFI through Mr. Allan Datu-Iman said that they have a long term growing program for the cacao farmers. KFI will provide the high quality cacao seedlings, training, supervision and a buy-back guarantee of the harvest,” ani Reambonanza.
Pinangalanan rin nito ang 5 napiling agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations at ito ay ang Gabu, Balas, Lawigan Agrarian Reform Cooperative sa bayan ng Labason; San Miguel Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative sa Mutia; Siari Valley Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative sa Sindangan; Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries ng Marcelo Multi-Purpose Cooperative sa Kalawit; at Depane, Don Jose Aguirre, Gupot, Linay, Lingatongan, Saluyong Agrarian Reform, Cooperative sa bayan ng Manukan.
Target rin ng mga coops na palawigin ang plantasyon sa 1,500 ektarya, ayon naman kay provincial agrarian officer Rizzel Villanueva.
“The DAR-KFI partnership will bring the desired outcome of increased farmer’s income and farm productivity. That compelled us to expand our target from 200 hectares to 1,500 hectares cacao area in the entire province,” wika ni Villanueva. “A minimum of 15 hectares will be established per municipality as pilot area to serve as catalyst for good cultural practices of cacao growing.” (Mindanao Examiner)
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