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| Prof Marlon Tambis, PhilRootcrops Deputy Director, explains the benefits of root crops at the start of the WBA Training on Rootcrop Production. |
August 3, 2022 (Isabela City) – Selected farmers from the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) assembled in Isabela City for capacity training on root crop production. The training was conducted by a team from the Philippine Center for Root Crop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) stationed at the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte.
Mayor Hanie Bud, the interim WBA chairperson, said PhilRootcrops has been tapped as an institutional consultant. Aside from the training on root crop production, other components of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by the parties include pilot production of two (2) varieties of cassava and another two (2) varieties of sweet potatoes suited for food consumption, setting up a root crop processing center in Western Basilan to be hosted by one of the WBA-member LGUs, two (2) batches of the training of trainers on root crop product processing and marketing workshop.
Mayor Bud added that this is one of the many development initiatives they have in line to spur and sustain the growth of the alliance. Earlier initiatives include the WBA DXPW 99.1FM radio station and the WBA CRM Center.
Provincial Administrator Manny Muarip reiterated Basilan Governor Jim Hataman’s interest in focusing on strengthening farmers’ food security and livelihood, which was greatly affected by the cocolisap infestation that devastated the local coconut industry, and the aspiration of opening alternative livelihood and enterprise complementary to the two dominant local industries – rubber and coconut. Aside from this, the Provincial Government and the WBA are also working on coastal resources management through capacitating local personnel on participatory coastal resources assessment and working with the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) to develop the CRM priorities for the next three years.
PhilRootcrops Senior Agriculturist Dioscoro Bolatete expressed optimism that the trainees will be able to apply their learning and commence land preparation in the pilot farms.
PhilRootcrops will continue to provide expert advice as the farmers progress with their initial production journey using the PhilRootcrops technology learned in the training.
The new technologies spanning production to processing to marketing provided by PhillRootcrops come at a time of improved security conditions in the province.
PhilRootcrops Deputy Director Marlon Tambis said the prevailing peacefulness presents an opportunity for Basileños to improve their economic situation and for PhilRootcrops to be engaged in the province as part of the realization of its mandate as a national agency tasked with research, development and extension.
WBA Technical Working Group (TWG) lead facilitator January Zanoria noted how member LGUs are keen to develop the root crop value chain, beginning with the identification of pilot sites and the core group of farmers who will manage the production and mobilization of local staff and partners who will be trainers and advocates of root crop products by popularizing their many uses and income-generating prospects.
The LGUs have already directed their respective local agriculture staff who will be actively involved across the value chain.
The first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan, WBA is supported by the Spanish aid agency AECID through the IAG-implemented Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) project in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.
