MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/29 October)– Experts from the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon will be the main speakers in the seminar on rubber plantation establishment at the school’s Farmers’ Training Center on October 30.
The seminar, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry – Bukidnon in coordination with the Valencia City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is part of the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Program (NICCEP), which is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“Rubber by the way is part of the priority industries identified by DTI for assistance under NICCEP,” Fam Villanueva, Bukidnon planning and information officer told MindaNews.
DTI opened the seminar to potential rubber investors and existing owners of plantations in Region-10 with limited knowledge on rubber.
Dr. Louella Cabahug, head of CMU’s Horticulture Department and Prof. Reymon P. Ruba of CMU’s College of Agriculture will take turns in discussing “Potential and Prospect of Rubber Production”, “Establishment of Rubber Plantation (Cultural & Management Practices and Harvesting & Processing), and “Economics of Rubber Production.”
Cabahug is also the president of the Philippine Fruit Association, which recently held a national forum on fruits at CMU.
Participants were also scheduled for a tour in a rubber plantation and processing plant.
Dr. Efren D.C. Villahermosa, Jr., president of Valencia City business chamber was scheduled to grace the seminar.
Dr. Virgilio Fuertes, provincial director of the Department of Science and Technology will present the DOST’s support program for rubber planters and processors.
Although the provincial government’s website says that Bukidnon exports rubber boots to the US, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam and United Arab Emirates, rubber is not among the major products of the province.
Among the crops that are widely grown in Bukidnon are palay, corn, sugarcane, pineapple, banana, cassava, sweet potato, white/Irish potato, cabbage, tomato, mango and durian.
“These are industries with contributory potentials to local economic growth of the province,” according to the agriculture profile at www.bukidnon.gov.ph.
Listed in the website as commodities for priority development in Bukidnon are food crops, livestock and non-food crops. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)