In a press release issued by the provincial office of DAR-Zamboanga del Sur, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Arturo N. Soria said the P14-million project would initially cover 200 hectares of Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB)-managed lands in Midsalip town for a period of 10 years.
DAR is linking with the Kennemer Foods International Inc. (KFI) to help the farmers produce quality cacao seeds that will be made into cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate.
It can be recalled that DAR-ARCP2, KFI and the Midsalip Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MIFAMCO), an agrarian reform beneficiary organization, had forged a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of cacao production project in the area.
Under the agreement, the KFI will teach and train the farmers on cacao production. It also agrees to buy the cacao seeds produced by the farmers.
Moreover, agriculturists consider Mindanao’s climate suitable for cacao growing. Cacao is also an ideal intercrop with coconut and other crops, as it needs a little shade from scorching sunlight.
Cacao production is not only encouraged in this province but also in other parts of Mindanao especially in the agricultural lands belonging to beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). (PIA9)
