Vizcaya pushed as next Philippines 'salad bowl'

DUPAX DEL SUR, Nueva Vizcaya – This upland town is emerging as the next salad bowl capital of the country, the Department of Agriculture reported last week.

This after five villages of his town will grow semi-temperate vegetables that can compete with those from Benguet and other parts of the Cordillera.

Among the crops that villages tapped are lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, sweet peas, chayote, cucumber, tomatoes, and bell pepper. They also grow other crops like squash, ginger, corn and adlai.

To date, the DA has already extended a total of P13 million in operating capital, trading post, irrigation, tramline, and other equipment for the program that is expected to develop some 1,500 hectares of farmlands in the province.

Last week, the agriculture department turned over close to P7 million in various assistance and interventions to some 200 farmer-residents in the area.

Part of the P7 million fund is a P3.5 million operating fund from the DA’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC); P3.2 million for irrigation facilities and a tramline; P50,000 worth communication facilities; and a pair of carabaos to help in land preparation.

The amount is the second tranche of aid extended by the DA to the farmers.

Nueva Vizcaya is Cagayan Valley’s vegetable capital. In particular, Dupax Del Sur is the main vegetable producer.