Aurora: The Coconut Industry
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Written by Cherry
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Monday, 31 May 2010 |
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In Aurora, the agriculture and local officials are planning of transforming a 133-hectare farm into a laboratory for different coconut varieties. This was a project that dreams the province to become the Luzon's coconut capital by reviving the coconut industry in our country. During the launching of the P10.3 million Aurora Province Coconut Development Center in Barangay Dibaraybay last Monday, the modern coco farm project was introduced. Rolando Imperial, director of the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle and concurrent assistant regional director for Central Luzon of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Post Harvest Research and Extension director Ricardo Cachuela and representatives from the Agricultural Training Institute grace the said event.This main event in Aurora highlighted the inauguration of the APCDC's warehouse, installation of electrical and potable water systems amounting to P1.27 million. The signing of an agreement between the actual settlers and tillers of the land also happened. Sen. Edgardo Angara and House Deputy Majority Leader Juan Edgardo Angara instigated this project and approved in October 2008. A memorandum of agreement was signed by Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine Coconut Authority led by administrator Oscar Garin, the provincial government represented by Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo and the municipal government represented by Mayor Tito Tubigan. The center started its operation with P118.6 million asset from various government partner agencies. But the construction of the farm-to-market road going to the site was financed by Rep. Angara. According to Dennis Calub, PCA regional manager for Central Luzon and Project Director of the APCDC, the project site houses a two hectare nursery where thousands of different varieties of coconuts from all over the country were grown, including 6,719 polybag seedlings. He added that the 50 hectares in the site already has 8,210 coco seedlings which were intercropped with a four hectare banana plantation, a two hectare sweet potato farm, a two hectare cassava farm and coffee beans put in six-plot seedbeds.
About 97 residents of this town were hired earning at least P5,000 per month. Only Aurora considered coconut as a sunrise industry. Aurora coconuts are in demand in other places which includes 20,000 coconut seedlings from Laoag. [via philstar.com] |
