Agro-economic zones to increase productivity

Southern Mindanao Development Authority (SPDA) operations manager Cristy Dagala said creations of agro-economic zones will help increase productivity among agricultural provinces in Mindanao.

Dagala said in an interview more agricultural activities will be made through the creation of agro-ecozones.

Dagala added with the agro-ecozones farmers will not only just focus on planting and yielding agricultural produce, but with the entry of business locators, agricultural production and manufacturing can already help increase profit not only for farmers but also for other people living in the economic zone.

Based from the legal framework and mechanisms for the creation of special economic zones under RA 7916, one of the goals in creating economic zones is “to promote the flow of investors, both foreign and local …which would generate employment opportunities and establish backward and forward linkages among industries in and around the economic zones.” Dagala said the role of SPDA is to identify potential sites for the creation of the economic zone.

SPDA is responsible in creating sustainable researches which will provide opportunities for provinces to be potential sites of development like turning such into economic zones. Presently, SPDA is eyeing in developing Amai Manabilang (formerly Bumbaran), Lanao del Sur into an agro-economic zone to increase agricultural productivity especially for the province.

“What we’ll do as a development authority is to encourage business locators especially in agriculture to come and invest in Bumbaran given with the rich farmlands in the province and of course include the community in order to benefit from the development,” Dagala said. SPDA continues to conduct feasibility studies in order to turn Bumbaran into an agro-ecozone effectively.