ComVal farmers get P41M in Pablo rehab funds from DA

The Department of Agriculture through its Task Force Alayon has released P41 million in rehabilitation assistance to farmers in Compostela Valley, Mindanao. Task Force Alayon was formed to help farmers who were affected by Typhoon Pablo, which hit the region in December. “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. Of the amount, P21.85 million was allocated to banana farmers, P13.12 million to cacao growers, P3 million to coffee growers, and P3 million to rubber growers. The department allocated a separate P21.8 million for clearing and rehabilitation works in 4,373 hectares of banana plantations. It also gave out P2 million worth of seeds for replanting, and will provide the farmers with technical assistance and access to other farm requirements such as fertilizer. The local government of Davao Oriental and the DA field unit in Region XI have also signed a memorandum of agreement with Kennemer Foods International Inc., a supplier of leading US food manufacturer Mars, Inc., for a cacao undercropping program on 500 hectares of damaged coconut plantations in the province. The DA and the provincial government of Compostela Valley also signed an agreement with Nestle Philippines to provide seedlings, fertilizer, training, and cash for work incentives to farmers. — BM, GMA News