A livelihood program has been initiated to help mothers whose children have nutritional problems, and at the same time boost Negros Occidental’s cacao industry.
Planting materials and seeds are provided to mothers in Patag, Silay, to plant cacao, Ramon Uy, RU Ecological and Agricultural Development Foundation Inc. president, said on Saturday, August 10.
It is a project initiated by his foundation and the Rotary Club of Bacolod North, Uy said.
The plastic bags, organic fertilizer and cacao seeds are provided to the mothers with the help of Rodolfo Villarina, their partner in Patag who trains the mothers on cacao growing, he said.
The Villar Sipag Foundation has also provided the Patag residents with fertilizer and vegetable seeds. The vegetables grown are consumed by the recipients and the excess are sold for additional income, Uy said.
When the cacao seeds grow his foundation will buy back the young plants for P25 each, so if a mother grows a lot she will greatly increase her family’s income, Uy said.
Uy said Criollo cacao of Bago resident Chris Fabriga will then be grafted with the cacao plants that would then bear fruits in less than two years.
Criollo produces top of the line chocolate, he said.
Uy said 200 hectares of Criollo is needed to put up a medium sized chocolate factory up in Negros.
Instead of buying 200 hectares of land he would rather get small farmers to grow the Criollo, he said.*