Cassava, corn model farms in Davao City seen to ease local rice demand

MODEL FARMS for cassava and corn are being set up in upland areas of Davao City to increase production for these crops that are considered as alternatives to rice. “These (farm) clusters will help ease the pressure on rice demand,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said during last week’s opening of the Davao Agri Trade Expo 2018. The cassava cluster model farm, which will receive interventions from the Department of Agriculture, is located in Marilog District. For corn, four model farms are being organized in the districts of Marilog, Paquibato, Calinan, and Tugbok. “The city’s programs for corn and cassava productions mostly include monthly production monitoring, provision of technical assistance by agricultural technologists assigned in barangays and districts, and pest and disease occurrence monitoring,” Ms. Carpio said. The mayor added that the city aims to achieve self-sufficiency for these crops alongside the promotion of yellow and white corn as staples. — Maya M. Padillo