The Kalunggay Farmers of Camarines Sur have on May 15 have started planting malunggay after the soft launch of a malunggay nursery.
Julian Lavadia Jr., a former Naga city councilor who now chairs the KFCS, worked closely with the local government to acquire an area in the vicinity of the Naga City Hall for the nursery.
Engr. Danilo Manayaga, President and CEO of Secura International, reiterated in his speech that the continuing increase in demand for moringa oil, a major byproduct of malunggay would spell big business opportunities for KFCS and many farmers of Camarines Sur.
Moringa oil is sourced from the seeds of malunggay and has enormous potential as edible oil and as biodiesel.
Malunggay thus provides farmers with food rich with vitamin A, iron, zinc and other micronutrients through the fruits and the leaves.
KFCS was established in November 2007 through a memorandum of agreement that formalized a contract-growing scheme between Secura International and the association.
Mary Ann Guerrero of the Bureau of Plant Industry also discussed with the farmers the proper planting of malunggay through seeds and cuttings and demonstrated the method at the nursery.
DA-Biotech Director Alice Ilaga encouraged the farmers to plant more malunggay, not only for health and nutrition but to exploit the business opportunities that await them.
Secura International needs 500,000 hectares planted to malunggay in order to answer the demand of US biofuel producers.
The company buys at the seeds at P10 per kilo. A farmer who plants a hectare of malunggay seedlings will harvest 20,000 kilos of malunggay seeds in the first two years, which translates into a net profit of P200,000 per hectare every year.
Source: Biolife News Service