MAASIN CITY, Dec. 21 (PIA) -- A total of fifty eight cacao farmers in the province of Southern Leyte participated in the Good Agricultural Practices Training initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Provincial Office.
The said training which was set on two scheduled dates on December 9-10, in the municipality of Sogod and December 16-17, in Pintuyan town.
DTI Provincial Director Michael B. Nuñez reported that the training aims to increase income of small farmers and unemployed rural folks across selected agri-based value chains.
From the total cacao farmers, 28 attended in Sogod and 30 in Pintuyan, it was learned.
“These activities were made through the Rural Agro - Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project of DTI,” Nuñez said.
It is a market-driven value-chain based project of the department, he said referring to RAPID Growth Project which will also serve as an indirect support to the cacao industry in the province.
The good agricultural practices have been set by researchers for farmers to follow to optimize farmer income and maintain quality yield.
In Southern Leyte, cacao farmers still use the traditional farming techniques, the source said.
“This is one of the factors why their average yield/proceeds remain lower than the national standard,” Nuñez added.
The training is also intended to capacitate farmers on good agricultural practices and apply such practices in order to increase supply of good quality materials to buyers and practice sustainable farming. (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments