Benguet official pushes seri-culture

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (June 14) — Out-going Kapangan mayor and number one Benguet board member-elect plans to push for the development of the seri-culture industry as an alternative to the vegetable industry at the provincial board soon after oath taking.

A STEP FORWARD. Board member-elect Rogelio Leon shares to local media his priority legislation in the provincial board. Photo by Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

Board member-elect for district 2 Rogelio Leon during the regular Kapihan sa Benguet said with the challenges the vegetable industry is facing at present, local farmers should be given other livelihood options. He said the seri-culture industry has very good potential for the province.

“The people of Benguet should not focus solely on the vegetable industry. We should also develop other industries,” he said.

Leon said seri-culture should be developed for all Benguet municipalities and not only in Kapangan. He added necessary equipment are already available at the provincial capital, La Trinidad.

“There is no problem for the market of silk thread, the problem is the irregular production of the silkworm cocoon. But hopefully with the processing equipment and cooperative, farmers would produce more regularly now, “ he said

Leon explained that in the past, cocoon production was irregular because farmers had a hard time selling cocoons because the market demand was for silk thread. He added that at present a farmer’s cooperative in Kapangan in a joint effort with the municipal government buys the cocoons directly from the farmers. He said the cooperative processes the cocoons into silk thread and sells it to textile manufacturers.

Leon further said aside from supporting seri-culture, planting mulberry trees would help in the reforestation program of the province. He added in no time mulberry leaves would become a commodity when the seri-culture industry succeeds.

Silkworms that yield the cocoons processed into silk threads feed on mulberry leaves. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS