NUEVA VIZCAYA – For the information of everyone, Kasibu – yes, this small town in this province with an area of 318.8 square kilometers – has just etched a name for itself, becoming the citrus capital in Luzon.
The Department of Agriculture Agri Chief Dr. William D. Dar signed the administrative order on June 24, 2022 declaring Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya as the citrus capital at least in Luzon, with its 529 hectares land devoted solely to cultivation of Rutaceae, or citrus sinensis.
Citrus has been considered as one of the top high-value crops in the Philippines, with the Cagayan Valley as one of the major citrus-producing regions, to which Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya belongs.
For those who are not familiar yet, Kasibu is the source of calamandarin oranges, mandarin (satsuma and ponkan) and pomelos and constitutes the majority of the total average production volume per harvesting season.
Kasibu is known for years as the gateway to the Cagayan Valley region, likewise famous for its orange varieties grown in the upland villages.
Local and Foreign tourists would love to buy citrus and vegetables being sold along the highway in Nueva Vizcaya.
The orange highway is one of the outlets of these products and a venue to promote the crates from Malabing Valley Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc.
The orange and citrus varieties are now in their harvest season from July to January each year.
Considered the peak season of orange and citrus products, it is expected that tons of fresh citrus fruits are loaded in wooden crates for distribution to other outlets outside the region, the DA said.
KASIBU citrus producers from Nueva Vizcaya are in for handsome earnings, especially since citrus fruits are said to be in demand during the pandemic.