CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Department of Agriculture in Region 10 (DA-10) has initiated an estimated P3.4 million worth of projects for the production of mushrooms and cacao in Northern Mindanao.
In a report by DA-10, the mushroom production project costs P3.2 million, while the cacao farming project is worth P175,000.
Cacao farming is intended for the indigenous peoples (IP) community in Iligan City as part of the barangay development program under Executive Order (EO) 70.
Kersten Pagalan, focal person of the High-Value Crops Development Program, said the mushroom cultivation project involves 32 units (growing houses) amounting to P100,000 each, which were provided to eight recipient local government units.
She said the 2,000 pieces of mushroom fruiting bags were provided to each beneficiary as part of their start-up kit, aside from polypropylene bags, vacuum sealer and bag filling machine. Pagalan said cultivating mushrooms can provide sustainable income, and may offer opportunities for income and livelihood.
“Mushroom culture also gain popularity in the Philippines, part of Urban Agriculture Program where we can produce in a limited space, can be grown whole year round with minimum maintenance and supervision,” she said.
Meantime, the department turned over 5,000 pieces of cacao seedlings to six IP farmer associations in Barangay Rogongon in Iligan City, in support of EO 70 or institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict. The project will benefit the 710 members of the Barangay Rogongon’s IP communities who are beneficiaries of DA’s Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubong (4Ks) program.
The Rogongon IPs have around 6,700 hectares of farmland suitable for cacao production aside from growing abaca as their primary source of income and living. Early in May this year, the community also received banana cardava planting materials.PNA