Lanao del Norte can become Phl crab capital – DA

The province of Lanao del Norte is envisioned to become the crab capital of the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture said.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is putting together a plan to achieve this.

“We already have a comprehensive plan that we will put in place very soon,” Alcala said.

Under the plan, BFAR will strengthen and improve the production of soft shell crab and will line up sustainable livelihood projects for the fisherfolks of the province.

Alcala also lauded the fisherfolks group in the province for their initiative and cooperation in stopping the utilization of sanggab, a local filter net which catches small crabs and prawns prematurely, allowing output growth of mudcrab production in Lanao del Norte to reach 62 percent.

The DA has provided P175 million worth of agricultural projects and equipment to farmers and fisherfolks for the 22 municipalities in Lanao del Norte.

Alcala turned over P27 million worth of projects under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project, one of the flagship programs of the administration that seeks to foster peace and development in conflict-affected areas.

The agriculture department also awarded P40 million under the Bottom-Up-Budgeting and P76 million worth of farm-to-market road projects that aim to fill the gap between the required and developed FMRs in the country.

Farmers also received 2,000 packets of assorted vegetable seeds, 1,200 fruit-tree seedlings, 1,000 bags of certified seeds, 1,000 bags of corn seeds, three units of thresher, three units of power tillers, one unit of four-wheeler tractor, and six units of mechanical sheller.

FMR sub-projects are targeted to increase production, reduce costs, minimize postharvest losses, and expand market opportunities for both producers and consumers.