Why is Cagayan propagating .5M ‘Sweet Abulug Pummelo seedlings?

Abulug, Cagayan - In support to the growing fruit industry, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office O2 (DA RFO2) is set to propagate around 500,000 Sweet Abulug Pummelo (SAP) seedlings eyeing to increase harvest to meet wider market demand for the locality’s pummelo-based products.

Earlier, the department has developed pummelo variety aka ‘ugly pummelo’ having the perfect combination of sweetness and sourness, has bigger potential and comparative advantage compared with other known pomelo variety in the country.

To entice growers of the 'Abulug Pummelo', DA RFO2 set up a SAP (Sweet Abulug Pummelo) Field Day to distribute initial seedlings propagated. The said field day was conducted at DA RFO2- Northern Cagayan Experiment Station (NCES) in Lucban, Abulug, Cagayan on August 10, 2021.

During the event, new farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) interested in growing pummelos were awarded 10,000 'Abulug Pummelos'. The recipients granted with the seedlings were CVLMROS Integrated Cooperative, Cadaanan SWIP II Irrigators Association, Santiago SWIP II Irrigators Association, and Rang-ay ti Pussian Farmer Cooperation.

SAP farmer, Dr. Nixon J. Cabucana, challenged the newly awarded FCAs to take advantage of the opportunity and should ensure that they are sustained to their effort will turn into a successful entrepreneurial project.

Meanwhile, 2nd District of Cagayan Representative Samantha Louise V. Alfonso, through Deputy Chief of Staff Cris Samonte assured that their office will provide the needed assistance to ensure the sustainability of SAP production in Abulug, Cagayan.

Samonte said, “Ang tunay na problema ay hindi ang pandemya, kundi ang kabuhayan ng mga tao. Maari kaming makapagbigay ng access-road, storage facility para sa mga kooperatiba, gumawa ng batas, at mamahagi ng kapital mula sa sariling pondo.”

Department of Trade and Industry Region 02 (DTI-RO2) Regional Director, Romleah P. Ocampo, also guaranteed that their agency will help in the global marketing of SAP and even on its product development.

“The Sweet Abulug Pummelo is another champion fruit that abounds in Abulug, Cagayan, and I am excited to market and promote it,” Ocampo announced.

All interested growers of SAP are encouraged to coordinate with DA RFO2- NCES for proper assistance.

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