THE Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao is currently assisting banana farmers affected by the closure of Agrinanas Development Company, Inc.
It can be recalled that in August, Agrinanas Company Development Inc., a major player in the banana export industry, has filed for bankruptcy, leaving around 5,000 workers and family members in Talakag and Libona, Bukidnon, without jobs.
With this, DA 10 led by director Jose Apollo Pacamalan came to the rescue of the farmers by providing them seeds for other crops that they would plant with the departure of Agrinanas.
In a forum with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) October 23, Pacamalan said that his department is providing corn, cacao, coffee and fruit tree seeds to the beleaguered farmers.
It was learned that 378 hectares of banana plantation are affected by the shutdown.
Pacamalan added that a company involved in the manufacturing of essential oils has expressed interest to plant patchouli and agarwood in the lands left behind by Agrinanas.
He said that these herbs (which are base notes for perfumery) are ideal to grow in elevated areas such as Talakag and Baungon.
Apart from that, Pacamalan is also encouraging affected farmers to become members of agricultural cooperatives in the area.
He said these coops can provide them vegetable seeds, tractors and fertilizers to utilize and continue their livelihood despite the shutdown.
October is also the Cooperative Month in the country.
DA 10 assists farmers affected by Agrinanas closure
