MAFAR FACILITATES RAFC SECTORAL CONSULTATION ON BANANA
After rice, banana was the focus of the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council (RAFC) Sectoral Consultation conducted on November 5, 2020 at the Pagana Native Restaurant, Cotabato City.
Facilitated by the MAFAR, the meeting was presided by Dr. Salik B. Panalunsong, Chair on Commercial Crops/Staple Foods and he made known the main agenda which included the lecture on Lakatan production system and the Advisory Special Bodies (ASBs) membership information.
Sarah U. Masiangal, RAFC Technical Staff, declared that the meeting was attended by a total of 26 participants composed of MAFC Chairmen from Talayan, Parang, Guindulungan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Sultan Mastura, Datu Piang, Sultan Kudarat, Upi, and representatives from LGU-Kabacan, SFF-MPC and PAFC-Maguindanao.
Dr Jalica D. Mangacop, MAFAR Consultant for Agricultural Concerns, shared essential tips in growing and managing Lakatan (Duka in Maguindanaon) banana and the status and ranking of major BARMM high value commodities such as mango that is third in the country in terms of hectarage. Dr Mangacop added that lanzones and coffee rank first and fourth in the BARMM, respectively.
Spurring interest among the participants, Dr Mangacop informed them that there is a volume need for distribution of 500,000 cuttings of sweet potato and 5,000 kilograms of Turmeric.
She encouraged each of the participants to maximize their farmland by planting different fruit bearing trees and vegetables and she committed to give 500 units of knapsack sprayer with rechargeable battery, cacao and coffee seedlings.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries Forms were presented by Masiangal where she explained the processes of filling out the forms. She also presented the six RAFC resolutions for this year 2020.
Informing the group, Masiangal said the MAFAR has allotted Php800,000 for consultations/meetings from which portions were already downloaded to the provincial offices for the Rice Forum in Maguindanao, Seaweeds Forum in Tawi-Tawi, Corn Forum in Lanao Del Sur and Rubber Forum in Basilan.
Ginambai Ibrahim, RAFC Member in Upi, Maguindanao shared information on Rural for Agricultural Industry (RAPID) Project of IFAD that caters interested farmers on the production of commodities like coffee, cacao, coconut and cardava banana which focused on farmers who are interested.
Abdulrahman D. Macabangon, RAFC Chairman, reminded the group of their volunteerism and strong partnership. “We should be cooperating and we should act as one; we should always think of what we can help”, concluded Macabangon.