Dinagat Islands might soon be the cassava capital of Caraga.

This, as the government and private sector unite to develop the cassava industry of the province.

On November 26, the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) turned over the “Cassava Granules Processing and Marketing Project” to the A & M Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Brgy. Cayetano, Dinagat, Province of Dinagat Islands.

The project spearheaded by the Enterprise Development (IREAP) Component of the PRDP-Regional Project Coordinating Office is worth P10 million and is comprised of a Warehouse and a Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement (MPDP), two units of flatbed dryer, a brand new truck, a weighing scale, and a cassava granulator.

IREAP Caraga Component Head Lynn A. Pareñas said that the project came about because of the vision of the Provincial Government to improve the farmer’s income and develop the local economy. Moreover, Pareñas said that the primary aim of the PRDP with the enterprise is to develop the cassava not just as an alternative food source but also for the industrial sector.

“Cassava is one of the priority commodities of the province and of the region. And we are very happy to have reached this milestone, that this project was finally realized,” she said.

On the other hand, PDI Governor Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao expressed her gratitude to the DA-PRDP for choosing to establish the project in the province.

“I have often heard it being said that you do not just invest in the project itself, but you also invest in the people. So thank you to PRDP for putting their trust in the people of Dinagat, in particular, the members of the A & M MPC,” Bag-ao said.

In addition, Governor Bag-ao said that cassava is widely grown in Dinagat and the production is really high with an estimated volume of production at 6,204.84 metric tons in the year 2015. Thus, the processing facility is a very welcome project.

The A & M MPC will buy fresh cassava tubers from cassava growers in the province and process these into granules which will then be delivered and sold to the Fatima Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Ormoc, Leyte with which they have an existing marketing agreement.

A & M MPC Manager Norma Villegas said that now that they have the processing facility, they will work even harder to further increase their cassava production and marketing and help develop the industry. (Vanessa P. Sanchez/DA13-RAFIS)