Capitol Equips Coco Farmers to Scale-Up Production, Increase Yield
Hoping to achieve their hopes of better crop production, a farmers’ association in Toledo City considers the farming equipment they received from the Provincial Government as the answer to their prayers.
“Among gilauman nga mudako ang among production, ma-promote namo ang among produkto ug mas mudako pa ang market,” says Emelinda Nelmida, president of the Farmer Growers Association (FARGRASSLAND) of Brgy. Landahan, Toledo City.
FARGRASSLAND was among those who received farming equipment from the Cebu Provincial Government during its 5thSerbisyo Karaban last March 19 in Balamban town.
The association received an electric dryer with coco sealer from the Capitol, which Nelmida said will help increase their coco sugar production. Currently, they can produce four to five kilos a day, which is priced at P300 per kilo.
“With the dryer, we can cut the production time since we no longer need to dry the coco sap manually,” Nelmida said.
At present, the association’s production area is located at Nelmida’s home, in a small outdoor kitchen she built in her backyard. The association hopes to have a bigger one, so they can accommodate the market’s increasing demand for coco sugar.
“With these farming equipment, we hope to encourage more farmers and millennials to take part in ensuring the province’s food security,” Toledo City Agriculturist Renelio Mabao said.
During the Serbisyo Karaban, P427,000 worth of farming equipment were distributed.
As president, Nelmida is also considering other business ventures for the growth of the association.
“We can use the electric dryer for cacao. We will look into products that we can produce out of cacao, considering that its market demand is continuously increasing,” Nelmida added.
The distribution of farming equipment is in line with Governor Hilario P. Davide III’s six-key agenda under countryside development that aims to ensure food security for the whole province of Cebu.
www.cebu.gov.ph
