There is money in cassava!

This was the unanimous yell of the farmers in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte after learning that there is a big market waiting for their produce.

Members of the Lingayao-Kahayagan Cassava Farmers Association are now starting to harvest after seven months of nurturing their crop with the hope of additional income for their family.

The group is the project-cooperator of the 30-hectare cassava model farm of the Department of Agriculture Caraga in partnership with the Provincial Agriculture Office of Agusan del Norte and the Local Government Unit of Las Nieves.

DA-Caraga with the LGU counterparts provided production and technical support.

Model farms are aimed to showcase appropriate technology as an avenue for learning for the farmers and other stakeholders in the community.

During the Cassava Production Field Day on November 18, 2020, farmers were also elated with the   turn-over of P4.8 million worth of farm equipment from DA-Caraga’s Corn and Cassava Program to the farmers in the said town.

The equipment consisted of two unit cassava granulator, two units cassava chipper, and one unit each of pulverizer, digger, corn sheller, 4WD tractor, vacuum pack sealer, and corn planter to Lingayao-Kahayagan Cassava Farmers Association, Lingayao-Maningalao Corn Growers Association, and Malungtarung West Las Nieves Farmers Association.

The turn-over was graced by Regional Director Abel James I. Monteagudo, Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega with Provincial Corn Coordinator Melody Guimary, Provincial Agriculturist Alvin Aclan, Municipal Mayor Avelina S. Rosales, and barangay officials.

“We were encouraged to plant cassava upon learning that our products will be purchased by a big company, hence we are sure of our market,” Roberto Calapre, chairperson of the Lingayao-Kahayagan Cassava Farmers Association said.

Regional Director Abel James I. Monteagudo challenged the farmers to be proactive partners for agricultural development.

“Continue tilling your land, the government is always there for you. DA and LGU is working hand in hand to support your noble profession, the farming,” he said.

Eyeing the potential of cassava, Provincial Agriculturist Alvin Aclan bared that cassava has been identified as one of the priority commodities of the provincial flagship project dubbed as Agusan-Up.

“To further boost the cassava industry in Agusan del Norte, the program is planning to establish a feed mill in support of the livestock industry,” he said.

Aside from human consumption, cassava is an important raw material for feed and other industrial products. (Aurelius P. Arais/DA-Caraga)