Mayor Khymer Olaso joined officials of Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) during the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and usufruct agreement for the establishment of a dairy box under the Coconut-Carabao Development Project at the WMSU College of Agriculture in San Ramon on Wednesday, May 6.
The agreement aims to strengthen dairy production within coconut-based farming systems by supporting cooperative beneficiary Agricooltorist de La Paz through the construction of a dairy facility that will promote value-adding, income generation and enterprise development for local farmers.
Mayor Olaso underscored the importance of partnerships among government agencies, academic institutions and community stakeholders in advancing agricultural development, stressing that collaborative efforts help improve farmers’ livelihoods while creating learning opportunities for students in the agriculture sector.
“It provides our partner cooperative, Agricooltorist de La Paz, with tools, knowledge, and support needed to engage in dairy production as a viable and sustainable livelihood,” the mayor said.
The MOA signing coincided with the unveiling and turnover of upgraded agricultural facilities funded under the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (DA-ACEF), including the enhanced Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory and the Hatchery, Brooding and Growing Units of the ZamPen Native Chicken Breeding Station.
The infrastructure and equipment for both projects were funded through DA-ACEF support amounting to P5 million each. For the upgraded Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, WMSU provided a P500,000 counterpart for chemical reagents and plant hormones under the leadership of Project Leader and Co-Project Leader Queeneevi Quijano. Meanwhile, the university allotted a P705,000 counterpart for utilities for the upgraded native chicken breeding station led by Project Leader Crisanto Floriano III and Co-Project Leader Desiree Recorte.
The upgraded facilities are expected to strengthen research, production, and extension services of WMSU while providing farmers, cooperatives and agriculture students access to technical support, quality planting materials, and improved livestock and poultry production technologies.
Present during the activity were WMSU President Dr. Ma. Carla Ochotorena, College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Elderico Tabal, PCC-9 Director Dr. Cecilio Velez, City Veterinarian Dr. Arcadio Cavan Jr., University Legal Officer Atty. Roberto Rivero III, and representatives from DA-ACEF, CA, PCC, Agricooltorist de La Paz and the WMSU community. (Arvin Midel) (photo credits: Kathy Wee Sit)