DAVAO CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has started the construction of a banana plantation for Teduray farmers in Maguindanao.
In a statement on Thursday, Nov. 4, the Bangsamoro Government said the plantation will be put up in Barangay Labungan, Datu Odin Sinsuat where the groundbreaking ceremony was held last October 29.
The Bangsamoro Government said "initially, five hectares of Cardava Banana will be planted in Datucampong Banana Plantation within the 50-hectare area plantation in the coming months."
It added that an estimated P2,000,000 to P20,000,000 worth of capital will be incurred in investing five to 50 hectares of Cardava plantation.
The project is led by the Regional Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) in collaboration with the Office of Member of Parliament Suharto M. Ambolodto and the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA).
Regional BBOI chairman, Atty. Ishak Mastura said he hopes that the project will encourage the residents to go into Cardava planting.
"Because there is also (an) available market and good income for Cardava,” he said.
“We are also eyeing future ventures to develop 150 hectares of Cavendish Banana Plantation here in the area that will generate at least 250 jobs, mostly for the local resident farmers," Mastura added.