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MinDA conducts seminar for sorghum project recipients
of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Barista Coffee Academy of Asia, Davao Region Coffee Council along with the Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDIVOCA).
Quisol said the gathering is a special avenue for the entire coffee industry to tackle key challenges and opportunities through technical discussions, learning about new technologies to increase productivity and quality, and build networks within the sector. Mindanao News
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He said there will also be international luminaries and key speakers presenting during various breakaway sessions. (PNA)
By Prexx Marnie Kate Trozo
DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on Monday conducted an orientation seminar on sorghum production and market prospects for local governments that are recipients of the project.
February 29-March 6, 2020 Caraga Infocus 37
MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in a forum here that the orientation delved on production technology, market prospects, and funding. Mindanao News
MinDA’s Sorghum Development Program aims to reduce poverty, increase productivity, and sustain the peace gains of the government by generating jobs and providing alternative livelihood options, Piñol said.
“We will orient you on what you could do with the crop, how the LGUs (local government units) could assist in the financial aspect, and MinDA on its part, will be reaching out to our funding agency partners and also link you up with a ready market,” he said. Sorghum stalks are used for silage for goats and cattle.
Piñol noted that currently, most of the sorghum requirements of domestic feed manufacturers are being sourced overseas.
MinDA’s program partner, PILMICO Foods Corporation -- a supplier of feeds for aqua, hogs, and poultry -- has been tapped to provide the marketing component of the project. He said MinDA aims to develop 100,000 hectares of marginal lands and ancestral domains by 2021, which would generate PHP15 billion every year.
Glen Banogon, PILMICO assistant vice president for nutrition, explained the nutrient composition, quality, and processing of sorghum as considerations in ensuring its market potentials.
“The three main considerations for sorghum are its nutritional value, availability, and cost. There’s a big potential here, with DA and MinDA’s assistance and facilitation in the cultivation process and PILMICO’s help in the market aspect,” Banogon said.
Sorghum is touted to possess multiple uses: its seeds are used for feeds for fish, ducks, chicken, and hogs. During the seminar, sorghum experts facilitated a series of presentations and discussions for various representatives from the provinces of Davao del Norte, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon and Basilan which are slated to receive sorghum seeds donated by Scott Seeds of Texas, USA.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform of the Bangsamoro government and Department of Agriculture regional offices were also present during the seminar. (PNA)
