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Silkworm, yacon, anthurium replace Kapangan MJ

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (Feb. 17) — Mayor Rogelio Leon of the municipality of Kapangan said that sericulture and other agricultural ventures as alternative to marijuana plantations are getting the support of the public especially from 80% of identified marijuana planters.

Identified marijuana growers had stopped the plantation and are now supporting their sericulture livelihood program.

Leon said that since the start of anti-marijuana drive in 2002, marijuana plantation also subsided. He also said that these people are very instrumental in persuading other planters to cooperate with the project.

Police Senior Inspector Gabriel Pablo, Kapangan chief-of-police, told the press that people of Kapangan are very much cooperative on the eradication of marijuana plantation which had been tolerated in the past.

In addition, Leon said the problem is that marijuana plantations had gone farther from Kapangan and nowadays are situated near the boundary of Kapangan, Kibungan and La Union, which are inaccessible by transportation. He said that in order to eradicate these sites, they need the cooperation of the said municipalities.

Pablo further said that they need a helicopter (which is not yet provided) for complete eradication. He said that they uprooted three sites of marijuana plantation last year. Only one planter was identified.

Knowing sericulture

Sericulture is the one-town-one-product (OTOP) livelihood project Kapangan chose as alternative for marijuana plantation. This project led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) applies to all the towns of the Benguet province.

Leon explained that based on their analysis, compared to vegetable as an OTOP, sericulture is much better since the plantation is already there and the farmers are already aware of the technology. To strengthen the new means of production, they asked the Sangguniang Bayan of Benguet to come up with a legislation identifying sericulture adoption in the province.

He further said to attract more farmers investing on it, they are targeting ventures on other by-products of cocoon like yarns, thread, and even silk dresses. By next year, their target will be the production of silk thread.

When it comes to quality, Leon claimed it is for export. However, he said they are not venturing outside the country since they havre just started breeding silkworm and the moriculture or mulberry production – the first stage of cocoon production. They have seven mullberry plantations mainly at Pungayan, Tabaaw, Tuba, Balacbac, Datakan, Labueg and Pudong. As of now, domestic market is only their focus.

According to Fe Donato, provincial fiber officer Benguet Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), there is an increase in the area covered by sericulture. Compared with last year’s 12.2 hectares, 12.5 hectares are now attributed for it. She explained that their slow expansion is due to many screenings they have to undergo.

Donato also said they target 20 building units as rearing houses for the worms needed for production. To date, they had already accomplished eight houses.

Fernando Pinos-an, officer of the Philippine Textile Research Institute and Technology Center (PTRI-TC), further said that their office is supplying the worms of the producers. However, due to lack of farmer investors, there are many excesses wasted. Today, there are 44 persons involved in sericulture in Kapangan.

Pinos-an also cited Mankayan, Sablan and Sagada do sericulture, however, not that big as Kapangan. She said they have market for cocoon not only in the Cordillera region but also in regions 1 and 3.

Donato further claimed that highlands’ production are of much higher quality as compared to lowland sericulture. She said that a class A here in the highland is classified as class B in the lowlands. “The good climate here is a factor for this discrepancy”, she stressed.

Donato said that a person needs P 5,000 as a capital to ensure production of class A cocoon. She also said that a silkworm egg can actually produce approximately, 20,000 worms and a box of the eggs for P 230. A box of class A fresh cocoon costs P 130; P100 for class B; and 90 for class C.

She further said that eight to 10 cocoons are needed to produce one strand of raw silk of 21 denier. A denier is the thickness of the silk yarn. Class C cocoons are not that saleable in the market that is why these are made into novelty items like artificial flower decors.

Donato further disclosed that they had signed a memorandum of agreement with Benguet Governor Borromeo Melchor for the construction of trading post at Wangal here for cocoons produced from Kapangan and other parts of the Cordillera. This is also to give way for a market for Class B and C cocoons.

Lastly, she said that PTRI-TC, FIDA, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the local government are supporting sericulture. Recently, National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also expressed support.

Other alternatives

Aside from sericulture, Leon said they are currently introducing yacon production as another alternative to marijuana. To date, Police Regional Office Cordillera (PRO-COR) gave 2000 seedlings of yacon distributed to selected barangays of the municipality where plantation of marijuana is rampant.

On the other hand, he said that yacon production is not that acceptable by the Kapangan people. He said many residents refuse venturing in it. These people are afraid and apprehensive to lose money just in transporting yacon from Kapangan to other markets like Baguio.

PRO-COR Director Leonardo Dionisio promised to help the people by attracting investors on the production of yacon by-products like yacon tea and yacon juice.

Anthurium plantation is also introduced in the forests of Kapangan as alternative livelihood. Leon further said that there are seven anthurium plantations in far-flung areas of Kapangan. They also have a model anthurium plantation called the Anthurium Forest at Tabaaw here, right at the seat of the municipal government, which is more accessible to tourists.

“The municipal government is buying-and-selling some anthuriums since the planters find it difficult transporting it to the market. However, we suggested that it is wiser if they would directly bring their flowers in Baguio. If it passes through us, we buy it at cheaper prices,” explained Leon. On the other hand, the model plantation has its own market.

Another problem concerning anthurium growers are the new varieties of it in the market, which buyers like better. However, in terms of quality, they are the same and they are considering to plant new varieties.

When asked if there are any plans of staging an anthurium festival, he said that it is not yet time. “However, tourists are very welcome to visit the plantations,” Leon added. # Florence Batawang/UP Intern for NORDIS

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