The advocacy to promote the planting of the Giant Bamboo (sn: Dendrocalamus giganteus) in the deforested areas and critical watersheds of Mindanao has spread beyond the region with a new group in Cagayan Valley aiming to produce 1-million seedlings over the next two years.
The Cagayan Valley Bamboo Corporation led by Isabela businessmen Victor Calderon and Edgar Pagulayan has established a nursery in Cabagan, Isabela with the help of veteran nursery management expert Romie Sotito of Cotabato.
Both Victor and Edgar are actually followers of my advocacies in Mindanao, especially the propagation of the Giant Bamboo both for the prevention of soil erosion and income and jobs generation.
Having absolutely no idea on how to start the bamboo industry in Cagayan Valley, the duo sought my help and I linked them up with the acknowledged “Mother” of the Bamboo Advocacy in the Philippines, Myna Decipulo of Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
To assist them in establishing a nursery in Cabagan, Isabela, I sought the help of the North Cotabato Palm Oil Corp. headed by my brother, retired police officer Patricio, by lending the group’s nursery expert, Romie Sotito, to help our Isabela friends.
A modern nursery system complete with a mist irrigation system was established in Cabagan town in less than a month after which local hands started filling poly bags with soil.
Since the transport of seedlings in bags with soil from Mindanao to other parts of the country is prohibited by the Dept. of Agriculture because of the presence of the Fusarium Wilt in the island, Myrna shipped carefully packed propagules by air cargo.
From Manila, the packed propagules were transported to Isabela for eight hours where these were dipped in root growth enhancer and placed in poly bags.
Calderon said CVBC aims to establish a Bamboo Processing Facility similar to the Bukidnon Giant Bamboo Resource Corp. plant in Malaybalay.
He said the seedlings will be sold to private individuals and local government units, especially those located along the banks of the mighty but often overflowing Cagayan River.
A buy-back scheme will be worked out where CVBC will assure the Cagayan Bamboo farmers and LGUs of a ready market for their produce.
He said CVBC aims to support government’s effort to mitigate flooding in Cagayan Valley by planting Bamboo near the banks of Cagayan River while creating a new and environment friendly farming activity.
#FarmingIsContagious!
#environmentfriendlyfarming!
(Photos show the modern nursery facilities for the Giant Bamboo in Cabagan, Isabela. Last three photos show the people behind the Cagayan Valley Giant Bamboo advocacy, Victor Calderon, Edgar Pagulayan and Romie Sotito.)
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