CEBU – Farmers who wish to convert their lands into jathropa plantations should have at least one hectare to be registered for such purpose for a long-term period.
Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon has his advice to the farmers, especially those in his district who want their lands to be made into a pilot area for the jathropa production.
A memorandum of agreement must be signed between the landowner, the office of Salimbangon, the Philippine National Oil Company and the government agencies concerned on agriculture.
Salimbangon explained that once the land is planted with jathropa, the owner may keep on harvesting the fruits as long as 50 to 70 years.
He said there is already an ongoing propagation of jathropa seedlings and he will announce it as soon as it is ready for distribution.
PNOC also has on-going seminars and trainings on how to plant and produce energy from jathropa, locally known as “tuba-tuba,” as an alternative livelihood of marginal farmers.
PNOC will also be the one to buy the products.
Salimbangon admitted there was a delay in the implementation of the project even if signed the MOA with Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Environment and Natural Resources before President Gloria Arroyo over a year ago.
He said that now that there is already an assurance of a market, he is no longer hesitant to urge his constituents to go into jathropa production using the land no longer suitable for farming.
Based on the inventory conducted by DENR, there are 18,000 hectares of idle land in the fourth district available for jathropa production.
PNOC only need at least five hectares of jathropa plantation for them to put a plant in the fourth district like in the town of Tabogon. — Gregg M. Rubio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)