‘Cagayan town peanut production declining’
CAGAYAN , Philippines — Enrile town in this province may lose its title as the peanut capital of the country amid the decline in production.
Mayor Miguel Decena Jr. issued the warning in his speech at the launch of Peanut Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda at Cagayan State University.
Decena said data from the municipal agriculture office showed that peanut plantations in the town were down to 250 hectares in nine barangays.
He said peanut farmers cannot hire workers because of the high cost of labor.
Former Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala declared Enrile as the peanut capital of the Philippines in 2015.
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development executive director Reynaldo Ebora said the agency aims to increase peanut production in the country from 1.24 tons to three tons per hectare through its industry strategic S&T program for legumes.
“We hope to sustain the availability of quality seeds, reduce the incidence of insect pests and diseases as well as minimize post-harvest losses for the peanut industry,” Ebora said.
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