DA to boost Nueva Vizcaya citrus industry

By Leander C. Domingo

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya -- The Dept. of Agriculture Cagayan Valley is eyeing a rejuvenated citrus industry in this upland town with implementation of balanced fertilization and pesticide use strategy (BFPUS),
    The DA said the BFPUS technology implementation aims to revive aging citrus trees to become productive while transferring citrus farming operations from parents to their children.
    Rose Mary Aquino, DA-RFO2 technical director for Research and Regulatory, said the technology involves not only the use of a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers but drone spraying of pesticides.
    "These initiatives for a more vibrant industry in the municipality are undertaken through a partnership between the local government unit of Kasibu and other stakeholders," Aquino said.
    Agriculture Secretary William Dar has personally witnessed the initial activity during his visit to Kasibu on March 18.
    "With DA's provision of additional support to our farmers, I know we can achieve higher profits in citrus production," Dar said.
    During the activity, Dar also witnessed Alfonso Namuhje Jr., pioneer citrus farmer in this town, and five other citrus farmers, handing over the operations of citrus production to their young children during the affair.
    Thirty years ago, Namuhje started citrus production in this town and was later embraced by residents and became their major commodity.
    Mayor Romeo Tayaban said this municipality is the major source of vegetables and fruits of the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal located at Bambang town.
    "In Kasibu, we don't dig but harvest gold," Tayaban said, referring to citrus.
    He said due to occurrences of pests and diseases that affected the majority of their citrus trees in previous years, farmers became lazy tending their plantations.
    "So far, our enthusiasm in citrus farming has returned because we have witnessed the government's effort in assisting the farmers with technology through drone spraying, and by providing us technical assistance and other projects," Tayaban added.
    He thanked the government for its sincerity in helping revive the dying citrus industry in this town.