Leyte intensifies high value crops productionTacloban City (24 June) -- For the first time in many years, Leyteños are now enjoying high value vegetables and fruits produced in their own farms. And for the first time, farmers have graduated to become entrepreneurs in their own rights.
Whereas before, only very few variety of fruits and vegetables could be planted in the province, at present, vegetables like Baguio beans, sweet peas, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and few others usually only found and harvested in baguio City can now be grown with same quality in Leyte. The traditional vegetables like the eggplant, ampalaya, string beans, upo, squash, patola and the like are of better quality now because of new technology. Fruits not locally grown before in Leyte like the Musk Melon, Honey dew, Red Lady Papaya, Watermelon (Formosa), etc. are now being produced locally. Sweet corn is now flooding the market including tomatoes, bell or sweet pepper, and several others.
The new technology on high value crops was shared to Leyte constituents as a priority project of the Province several years back under the leadership of then Governor Remedios L. Petilla. Many farmers and professionals alike underwent a season long (about 3 months) hands on training on vegetables and fruit crops farming at the Leyte demo farm in Barangay Baras, Palo, Leyte. This program is being continued by the new Governor Jericho Petilla.
Now a congresswoman, Representative Remedios Petilla rallied all the seven First District Mayors to give priority to Agriculture especially on high value crops production in support to the program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. All the seven municipalities, Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Migue, Sta. Fe, Tanauan and Tolosa have their own Demo Farms where trainings are given to farmers.
At present, more than 70 farmers and professionals from the first district alone responded to the challenge of Congresswoman Petilla.
As a result of this campaign, Leyte now in general and the First District in particular, is reaping the fruits so to speak of its efforts. (PIA
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