10 Farmers, 10 Eclectic Dinalupihan Project, seeing success!
San Fernando, PAMPANGA – Formally launched the project ′′ 10 Farmers, 10 hectares, Towards Abundant Harvest and High Income ′′ on 19th February in Hermosa and Dinalupihan, Bataan visited by the Secretary of the Department by William Dar and led by Mayor Angela Garcia of Dinalupihan.
The project is a High Value Crops Diversification and has a modernization program for clustered or congregated small rice farmers of Dinalupihan, Bataan. It is also a Public-Private Partnership Project (PPP) between Bataan Provincial Local Government Unit and Agrilever Ltd. for the establishment and operation of One Bataan Agriculture Innovation and Technology Center (1 BAITC) in the province. 1 BAITC provides farmers with the necessary services to fully manage the agricultural economy and related financial aspects of their farms to increase their production and returns to help most farmers achieve high seen in modern and innovative farming.
The town of Dinalupihan as the selected area for the project has chosen ten model farmers with one hectare of land focused on vegetable production that will use the drip fertigation system as their water or irrigation resource.
The project is based on four main crops. This is watermelon, chili, tomato and eggplant chosen based on market study and suitability to plant in third region.
Also attended the launch of the Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit Evelyn Laviña, Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, Agriculture Consultant Jerry Pelayo, Regional Executive Director of Central Luzon Crispulo Bautista, Jr., Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, Mayor by Hermosa Antonio Joseph Inton and Agrilever Business Manger Ahron Samuel.
In Secretary Dar’s message it shared that there is a need to be crushed to recover due to pandemic and the effects of African Swine Fever (ASF). To do this it requires four strategies consisting of consolidation, modernization, industrialization and professionalization.
It also made it clear the beauty of disruptive technology in the farm production level, ′′ You disrupt what has been conventional so that you can bring what is modern and relevant, so that your level of productivity will be as high as eight times from the present Level “, Dar’s explanation.
For the Governor of Bataan, Albert Garcia, he sees that this project can be a lot of help and benefits to farmers because the agricultural industry of the province will change.
′′ Their profit will increase, their process will be efficient, ensure quality and quantity of harvest because there is a system. Because if there is no system, let’s just pray. So the market will buy all the crops because our market has scale and quality,” said Garcia.
Agrilever Business Manger Ahron Samuel shared the benefits of having drip irrigation in the farm and having three times higher harvest compared to traditional watering of vegetables. Their company also aims to not only plant a farmer but to elevate their planting method and see farming as a business.
“The next thing they can do is to generate their own business and develop their own farm with the knowledge and experience they’ve gathered with us. It’s not just to employ them, it’s to enable them and to empower them,” saad ni Samuel.
Furthermore, the visible good and efficient outcome of the launched project plans to expand for the coming years. Expected from 100 hectares to 100 hectares to 1,000 hectares areas producing high value crops using drip irrigation system.#