Farmers could also earn from rubber trees - DA exec

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines – Other than planting rice and corn, farmers in Central Luzon could also earn from rubber trees. "Hindi maselan ang rubber trees, kahit iwan mo siya at pagkatapos maghintay ka lang ng limang taon pwede mo nang anihin [Rubber trees are not particularly sensitive, leave it alone and just wait until after five years so you can harvest]," Agriculture Assistant Secretary Clayton Olalia said in a recent press briefing here. He said that if rubber trees can be profitable in Mindanao, "it could also be profitable for farmers here in Central Luzon." The Department of Agriculture (DA) has already established a two-hectare demo-farm for rubber trees in Magalang two years ago. Olalia said like in Mindanao, farmers could earn P15,000 per hectare "by simply waiting for five years." "They [farmers] could even plant corn and other crops in rubber plantation. Hindi naman maaapektuhan ang mga rubber trees [the rubber trees won't be affected]," he said. Olalia also said that President Gloria Arroyo has allotted at least P5 billion to finance various projects in agriculture. All cooperative banks in the country also receive financial assistance from the DA according to Olalia. Two years ago, the DA in Central Luzon proposed a P300-million project to the Spanish government for the conversion and development of lahar-laden areas into agricultural lands. But the Spanish government only approved a P10-million project proposal for the establishment of 20 greenhouses in various provinces in Central Luzon. Agriculture Deputy Director Eduardo Gonzalez earlier said that lahar-stricken areas could be tapped and developed for a variety of crops that included rubber trees. Part of the project is a study on the adaptability of soil in the area, the result of which will be the basis for soil rehabilitation. Officials of the DA Region III, together with other researchers and Gonzalez said that the P300-million proposed budget would include researches on soil adaptability, infrastructure projects, buying of equipment and soil rehabilitation operations. The Agriculture department had also established pilot farms in Tarlac, Pampanga and Zam­bales to test the viability of large-scale rubber plantation in Central Luzon. Gonzalez backed Olalia saying that rubber plantations, which is proving highly profitable in Mindanao, could be viable in the region. But first, he said, an extensive study had to be conducted. According to the Bureau of Agricultural Research, seedlings, brought in from the University of Southern Mindanao, are already available. Planting sites have been designated in Arayat and Magalang in Pampanga and in some areas in Zambales and Tarlac. - Joey Aguilar, GMANews.TV