DAR backs 'pili' sweets industry of Sorsogon
MANILA, Jan. 30 (PNA Features) –- The Bicol Region is known for its “pili” nuts. No one leaves the place without it.
Agrarian
Reform Communities (ARCs) throughout the region are engaged in the
industry in cooperation with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“The
supply of pili nuts have increased in the last two years with the
establishment of 30 orchard farms in Sorsogon City Agrarian Reform
Community (SCARC) in Sorsogon Province,” said Agrarian Reform Secretary
Nasser Pangandaman.
He
said the project, in partnership among DAR, DTI, Asian Development Bank
(ADB) and the Sorsogon helps more farmers earn additional income aside
from rice farming and copra producing.
Pangandaman
said DAR tapped the Salvacion Farmers’ Development Cooperative
(SAFADECO) and Sarong Grupo para sa Kauswagan (SAGKA) for the pili
production project.
“The
plantation will cover 10 hectares of land and could initially benefit
40 agrarian reform beneficiaries. In 2009, the pili project was
expanded in Barangay Salvacion, Sorsogon City,” Pangandaman said.
SAFADECO
and DAR established a nursery for the “pili” plants in a five hectare
nursery-working area which was developed by five agrarian reform
cooperators who became agents of transferring the new technology to
other beneficiaries.
“Pili,"
scientifically known as “canarium ovatum” is indigenous to Bicol
Region. Sorsogon, known as the land of prosperity, welcomes its
visitors with a huge landmark of this wooden fruit as they enter the
province.
While pili nut was introduced in other countries, it is only in the Philippines where it is processed in commercial quantity.
Bicol,
the major producer, has produced approximately 4,462.1 metric tons in
2005 with Sorsogon covering the highest production of 2,549 metric
tons.
Pili
is believed to have originated from the slopes of Bulusan Volcano. It
has many uses: The hard thick shell from its fruit is used as fuel and
material for handicraft. The fruit when soaked in hot water makes the
outside edible pulp edible, while its kernel can be eaten fresh. (PNA
Features)V3/JCA
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