Clark pushes vegetable farming

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – Some 470 farmers are expected to benefit from Clark Development Corp.’s agricultural project with East West Seed Co. Inc.

The seedlings dispersal program will benefit farmers from Mabalacat, Bamban and Capas including the Indigenous Community (Aeta) Group.

Some 53 farmers initially received sample seedlings of papaya, okra, talong, and sili.

East-West Seed is the first integrated vegetable seed company in the country founded by Filipino seed trader and businessman Benito Domingo and Dutch seedsman Simon Groot.

It aims to increase farmers’ income and promote the growth of the vegetable farming industry.

Headed by lawyer Arthur P. Tugade, the CDC continuously implements various agricultural and livelihood programs to uplift the lives of marginalized residents within the contiguous of the Freeport Zone.

“What makes the project unique is that CDC is providing farm-ready seedlings that were cultivated in laboratory-controlled environment. It shortens the crop- cycle and hastens harvest, thus, providing immediate income to farmers,” said Rommel C. Narciso, manager of CDC-External Affairs Department (CDCEAD).

The EAD, CDC’s corporate social responsibility’s arm, is spearheading the project.

This livelihood project forms part of CDC’s performance commitments to the Governance Commission on Government Owned and Controlled Corporations. It is expected to provide job opportunities and additional income to farmers.

Once the seedlings are planted, vegetables will be readily available in the farmer’s backyard, said Julio Silvestre, an agriculturist in Bamban said.