By Erwin Nicavera/Philippine News Agency
BACOLOD CITY — The Municipality of La Castellana in Negros Occidental, home of the award-winning saba sticks, is planning to establish an economic zone (ecozone) as part of its efforts to expand banana production.
Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan said on Tuesday a portion of the ecozone will be devoted to plantations as the local government seeks to regulate banana shipments to ensure ample supply of raw materials.
“The local government unit has been a partner in the production of saba sticks. We provide producers with capitalization and help them promote their products,” she added.
Nicor-Manguilimutan underscored the need to regulate the shipping out of banana, particularly the “sab-a” or cardaba variety, as a measure to sustain the production of saba sticks.
“There is high market potential for the product, we have seen the huge demand,” the mayor said, adding that the municipality will also provide additional capitalization for saba sticks producers.
The production of banana sticks started two years ago as part of the livelihood program of the local government.
Recently, La Castellana received the award for “Best Innovative Saba Banana Snack Food Products” in the 16th Q Asia’s National Product Quality Awards 2019 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
Nicor-Manguilimutan, who received the award from Q Asia executives, said she will request the Municipal Council to pass an ordinance regulating the “exit or shipping out” of bananas to be sold in markets outside the town.
Figures of the Municipal Agriculture Office showed there are about 500 hectares of sporadic banana farms in all 13 barangays (villages) of La Castellana.
Vast areas of these backyard-type farms are located in Barangays Cabagnaan, Sag-ang, Mansalanao and Masulog.
Each month, farmers produce at least 40 tons of banana, which are sold to local markets, including those in Bacolod City.
The bulk of the production includes “sab-a” while other varieties are “latundan” and “balangon”.
La Castellana also hosts a 17-hectare banana plantation run by a private company in Barangay Lalagsan.
The farm has a monthly production of 27 tons which is exported to China. It also has a newly-planted area of six hectares and plans to add 12 hectares more.
For the latest updates about this story, visit the Philippine News Agency website
