The province of Negros Oriental will soon benefit from the P1- billion soft budget for 2012 from the Department of Agrarian Reform development project for crops like rice, corn, sugarcane and coconuts.
Rep. Pryde Henry Teves of the 3rd district of Negros Oriental said plans are being eyed to develop alternative crops like banana and coffee. He said alternative crops will be introduced to the farmers as additional income.
Teves said the convergence conference on coffee last Monday in Davao City is giving them vital information to include coffee as alternative crops under the program of DAR.
He said coffee is a type of crop that is easy to plant and does not require much attention. It can also be harvested in a short span of time.
Some areas in Negros Oriental have been into coffee farming like Bayawan, Dauin and Bais City. He said the P1 billion soft budget for crops and alternative crops can give a big boost to the livelihood of farmers, especially those that need farm inputs and capital.
At present, the demand for high grade variety of coffee beans is very high because of the growing population of coffee drinkers.
Rep. Teves promised that Negros Oriental will benefit from the said budget considering that the province has wide agricultural areas that is suitable for coffee and banana plantation.
He also believes that coffee and banana are crops that are not difficult to market. (PNA/JFP/Maricar Aranas)
