Aklan Agricultural Technicians Wake-Up
What are the significant
accomplishments the Agriculture Technologists of Aklan claim? It appears
nothing. In the 2015 Gawad Saka Search, 11 framers, fisherfolks and
associations qualified out of the 23 categories. Those Gawad Saka Awardees are
honored in the award ceremony held on August 25, 2015 at Diversion 21 Hotel,
Iloilo City.
But quite disgusting. Nobody from
Aklan placed among the awardees. This, inspite of the presence of the premiere
College of Agriculture at Aklan State University, College of Fisheries, and
College of Veterinary Medicine.
Moreover, the agricultural extension and training arm of the Department
of Agriculture is situated in Banga, Aklan. What have they done? Did they just
fold their arms and sit down? If they have been snoring, it is time for the
Regional Training Center, ATI and serve our
farmers and fisherfolks.
Six of the 2015 Gawad Saka
awardees are from Negros Occidental with Ramy D. Entherro of Himamaylan as
outstanding rice farmer. Outstanding Fisherfolk Mabini Mission of Binalbagon,
while the Outstanding Farm Family is Mr. & Mrs. Eladio and Panganiban
Family of Silay City. The Outstanding Young Farmer is Jason S Pelayo;
Outstanding Corn Farmer – Bernard E. Dionedo of Bago City, Outstanding Agricultural
Researcher is Engr. Jimbo P. Garsula of Bacolod City, Rebecca C. Tubongbanua is
Outstanding Agri-Entrepreneur and the Buenas 4-Club is Outstanding Young
Farmers Organization.
Iloilo’s NAMOCOH Farmers
Organization is awarded Outstanding Small Farmers Association, New Lucena
Municipal Agricultural and Fishery Council is Outstanding MAFC.
ASU and Agricultural Training
Institute can not do more if the office of the Provincial Agriculturist is not
well supported in terms of logistics, personnel complement, and managerial
competence. Agricultural extension services demand technical and social skills
of the technologist to assist the farm families. Technologists after being
given their assignments must be fully assisted.
Considering the varied interest
of Municipal LGUs headed by the mayors, food production to some is not their
prime priority. The Agricultural Training Institute management and staff with
the partnership of ASU agriculture scientists and members of the faculty may
persuade LGU officials to assist the farm families in their quest to increase
agricultural production and income.
Coconuts
Coconut-Niyog in Aklanon and
Pilipino is dubbed the “tree of life” because of its several uses. The nuts are
eaten as food, processed as oil either for medicine or for cooking. The trunk
is used as construction material, as bridges and as firewood. The leaves are
used as shade. The shell is manufactured into charcoal, while the hush is woven
as rugs and soil cover to prevent soil erosion.
Coconut bearing trees can be
“sanggutan” to produce sap for wine and vinegar. The coconut water (sabaw) is
processed as coco juice. Do you have coconut trees? If non, plant coconut trees
now. The trees are good wind break and shade. It helps reduce high temperature.
According to Philippine Coconut
Authority in Kalibo, Aklan, there are 43, 357 hectares where 4,333,704 coconut
trees are growing. There are 40, 271 coconut farms taken good care by 52,078
coconut farmers whose average is 58 years old. Can they withstand climate change?
Can they climb coconut trees to harvest the nuts?
Of the total coconut trees
growing, only 2,292,999 trees, or 50 percent are bearing. Some 1,745,339 are
non bearing, while 297,371 are beyond 60 years old.
According to the PCA, a coconut
tree produces 63 nuts annually. Hence, the almost three (3) million coconut
trees in Aklan produce 189 million nuts a year. PCA Aklan further reported that
it takes four (4) pieces of mature coconuts to produce one kilo of copra.
Therefore, the 189 million nuts will give 47, 250, 000 kilograms or 47,250
metric tons of copra per year.
If we divide the 47, 250 metric
tons by 12 months, Aklanon coconut farmers must be producing a monthly average
of 3,104.11 metric tons. If this is sold at P23, 000 per metric ton, the gross
will be P71, 395, 450 or an average of P1, 371 per month from copra alone.
However, is Aklan really
producing 47,250 metric tons of copra annually? It is highly doubtful. Coconut
oil processing plants in Kalibo and Banga closed due to the insufficient supply
of raw material, copra.
Statistics remain valid unless a
new and recent data is available and presented. PCA Aklan needs to update its
figures in coconut. Typhoons may have toppled down several coconut trees. Some
3,000 core shelters are being built in Madalag and Balete using coconut lumber.
Moreover, some families are cutting their trees for their own family use.
Coconut statistics need updating. /MP
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