Starting Local Industries! Planting Cassava Under Coconuts: Puede Ba Ito Sa Quezon Province?

Everytime I pass by the Province of Quezon on the way down to Mindanao from Manila, I cannot help but ask why no other crops are planted under the vast coconut areas.

In the old town of Malabang, Lanao del Sur, Maranao farmers had been planting for ages the Lakan variety of Cassava which are processed into starch by the Matling Industrial Commercial Corporation.

The farmers earn an additional income from Cassava while others intercropped Coconuts with Coffee, Cacao and Abaca.

I believe this could be replicated in Quezon and other Coconut producing areas of the country.

With an estimated 5-million hectares of Coconut farms all over the country, intercropping Cassava, Coffee or Cacao with coconuts could boost the country’s economy.

With a processing facility near the farms, it could start a local industry which could provide jobs to thousands.

There is a need for government to focus on local industries to make use of our available resources.

Providing funds for these industries with very low interest rates could hasten our economic recovery.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!