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By IAN GO
THE National Agribusiness Corp.(Nabcor)
has turned over a check worth P3.37 million to the Moringa
Growers Federation of the Philippines Inc. (MGFPI) to
finance its Malunggay Bionegosyo Project.
Nabcor said the project is a venture
of the company, MGFPI and the Department of
Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DABPO).
The ceremony was held at the DA Policy
and Planning Conference Room and attended by DA
Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano, DA-BPO director Alicia
Ilaga, Dr.Vivencio Mamaril of the Bureau of Plant Industry
(BPI), Nabcor representative Ralph Mariano and members of
MGFPI headed by its vice president Ben Veneracion.
Serrano said that while popular belief
holds that malunggay grows well whenever and wherever it
is planted, using systematic and scientific management
ensures better growth for the plant and better income for
farmers.
“Let us debunk the belief that the
Filipino farmer could not wait,” Serrano said, referring
to the misconception that Filipino farmers are inclined to
plant crops that takes only months to harvest like rice.
One of the opportunities Serrano eyes
for malunggay is for it to be used in the manufacture of
alternative animal feeds due to the vegetable’s high
calcium content.
He added that he has high expectations
of the project.
Serrano also called on the combined
effort of all those involved to ensure the success of the
endeavor.
Veneracion agreed and said though the
project is relatively small, it will grow because of tight
collaboration among the partners.
“Our mission now is to make sure that
the amount given to us grows as business intensifies
andprospers,” Veneracion said. |
