Kalibo, Aklan- In his 7th State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered before the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan during the later’s 3rd Regular Session on Feb. 02, 2011, Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez has emphasized the diversification in the province-led programs in agricultural productivity.
While acknowledging that the provincial government maintains Aklan as a surplus rice producer through the years, Marquez said that Aklan’s agricultural thrusts have diversified and ventured into vegetable production, corn production program, fishery projects, abaca production, mango production, banana production and tree plantations, among others.
The governor revealed that a total of 13, 260 mango seedlings were already planted in a 221 hectare-area provincewide and thousands more of tree seedlings were already distributed for planting by the provincial government’s nursery at Nalook, Kalibo.
Through the support of the DA field office in Region VI, some 41, 560 suckers worth P1.33 Million of “lakatan” banana planters were distributed to 320 farmer- beneficiaries, he said.
In 2010, the governor reported a total abaca fiber production of 1,242,344 kilograms with a total estimated value of P50 Million, slightly reduced from a production level of 1,461,292 kilograms in 2009 due to the fiber mosaic disease. But the infestation was placed under control with the help of the Fiber Industry Development Authority. As of December 2010, a total of 4, 208 hectares has been planted to abaca involving 4, 109 farmers, he added.
Five-million pesos worth of hybrid rice corn seeds (1,428 sacks) were distributed last year to 1,845 farmers’ provincewide to jumpstart the hybrid corn production program.
To compliment crop production, Aklan has aggressively embarked on fishery projects like the massive establishment of concrete artificial reefs, fish enhancing devices, shoreline protection and rehabilitation, techno-demo on high saline tilapia culture in cage, modified extensive tilapia culture in pond, oyster culture while maximizing the distribution of bangus fingerlings, the governor further elaborated.
A pilot project on pangasius fish culture, the next big thing in fishery, has been established which may present new business opportunities for Aklanons, Marquez emphasized.
He also cited the successful P1.9 Million Lambaklad project at Baybay, Makato, Aklan which netted more than half a million pesos in net income after 6 months of operation.
Two more projects of the same kind will be established at Mabilo, Kalibo, costing P1.9 Million and another P3 million worth in Katipunan, Buruanga.
No comments:
Post a Comment