BATUAN, Bohol — In an effort to increase the income of coconut farmers, reelectionist Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday encouraged Boholano farmers to inter-crop cacao as the demand for it is on the rise.
Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, made the appeal during a brief talk with Bohol media on the sidelines of the 115th anniversary celebration of Batuan town.
The lawmaker said she is encouraging coconut farmers to consider planting cacao as additional crop because the country is only producing 10,000 metric tons of cacao while the demand is 50,000 metric tons.
Villar said the planting of cacao would provide coconut farmers an additional income of PHP10,000 per month.
Moreover, she said inter-cropping cacao with coconuts would also improve the country’s agriculture economy.
“Kailangan mag improve, kailangang mag discover ng bagong modelo para makasabay (There is a need to improve. There is a need to discover new models to catch up),” she said.
She also urged Boholano farmers to get into farm tourism, which would be a huge boost in the tourism industry of Bohol.
She has been frequently visiting Bohol, considered as an agriculture powerhouse in Central Visayas.
Bohol province is also being primed to become the dairy capital of the Philippines. (Dave Albarado/PNA)
