Rapid Urbanization continues to Threaten Strawberry production in LT

February 23, 2019 Headlines

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- The fast phase of development still haunts strawberry production in this capital town, known as the Salad Bowl and Strawberry Capital of the country and in recent years as Rose Capital.

In the launching of the 38th Strawberry Festival (Feb 20), Mayor Romeo Salda admitted that “Land Conversion” still post a big challenge in their strawberry industry, which is lifting their town’s economy, generating jobs and improving the livelihood of local farmers.

Salda, however, was quick to say and expressed optimism that the passage of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2016-2025 will address the nagging problem besetting the industry.

Salda pointed out that the approved CLUP, has classified areas for intended for commercial, agriculture and housing development, among others.

He emphasized that his administration is implementing the CLUP, but several criticized his alleged “soft hands” in enforcing the zoning policy.

Municipal Agriculture Officer, Felicitas Ticbaen, reported a marked decrease of six hectares of planting areas, notably in strawberry producing barangays in Pico,Wangal, Balili, Shilan,Lubas and Betag where the popular strawberry farm is located.

“Land conversion” is among the factors in the decline of planting areas where some owners opted to sell their lots for commercial use.

Despite the decrease of planting areas and the effect of weather disturbances, production of strawberries remains stable, pointing out the resiliency of strawberry farmers and the technological advancement introduced.

The town’s annual harvest of strawberry is posted at 1.2 million kilograms or an average of 22.5 tons per hectare. Sweet Charlie and Festival topped the strawberry varieties that are produced.

Sustaining strawberry production, the local chief executive reiterated anew the municipality’s support of the move, not to allow Benguet State University (BSU) to build structures “inside” the strawberry farm (46.26 hectare lot) in Barangay Betag.
Recently, the municipal council, headed by Vice Mayor Joey Jovencio Marrero, appropriated some PH 12-million to buy a lot for strawberry farming and other purposes for advancing the development of strawberry production.
To date, a number of individuals offered their lots for sale for the purpose, but the “buying price” remains an issue.
Furthermore, the municipal agriculture office revealed that P.5-million sourced from a so-called thrust fund has been allocated for the purchase of planting materials from an Argentina-based importer.
The planting materials are expected to arrived this April in time for Christmas holiday harvest.
Also, in the launching of the festival, municipal officials expressed their gratitude of the support of the national government through the agriculture department in providing millions worth of irrigation facilities for the farmers, among others.
Likewise, they thanked the initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) in areas of product development, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in terms of promotions.

Primo Agatep/ABN