As the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) pushes the advocacy to re-green the highlands of Mindanao with fruit trees and bamboo, critics have jumped in saying that the agency should be promoting instead the planting of native and indigenous trees, including “Balete.”
I agree with them that to achieve the most ideal reforestation program, indigenous and native tree species should be planted in the deforested areas of Mindanao to protect the environment.
But these natural tree growing advocates should be reminded that the reason why the government’s reforestation program had failed thus far is because it has focused solely on environmental protection.
The current reforestation policies of government has forgotten that to encourage people to plant trees, there must be economic benefits to be derived from the program.
“Balete” is a very good reforestation species owing to the superstition that surrounds the tree which discourages people from cutting it down for fear of displeasing the “spirits.”
But how do you encourage farmers to plant “Balete” or Toog, Dao and other hardwood species if they cannot benefit from it?
This is the real world as against the ideal environment and government must make adjustments if it intends to succeed in planting trees once again.
MinDA is promoting the planting of the Giant Bamboo, especially in the upstream of the different river basins of Mindanao but it is part of a complete value chain where processing facilities will be established downstream to turn the bamboo into a profitable crop for farmers.
The agency is also promoting the planting of high-value fruit trees suitable in the highlands like Hass Avocado and Sweet Jackfruit with the farmers assured of financing and marketing agreements.
Coffee and Cacao farming, including the commercial Falcata which could be intercropped with Coffee and Cacao, and the highly valuable Agarwood Tree, is also being pushed.
MinDA will also thresh out with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the difficult policies and guidelines which dampen the enthusiasm of farmers in planting Bamboo and industrial trees.
MinDA believes in promoting the planting of trees, including bamboos, to protect Mindanao’s water sources and prevent soil erosion to ensure sustainable agriculture.
The program, however, must be simple, doable and beneficial to all those involved.
Anything short of that would just be a fancy dream.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#KungDiKikitaDiMagtatanim!
(This video presentation of Regreening Mindanao was prepared by the Mindanao Development Authority Media Team for the Beauty and Bounty of Mindanao.)
https://fb.watch/awUw4TSUIw/
More Stories
2nd Harvest Of ‘Saging Tindok!’
American Baseball Coach In North Cotabato!
Cotabato ‘Rice Republic,’ Localized, Autonomous Food Security Strategy!