In response to Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s pronouncements during a field visit in September 2021, a meeting on the possible actions for the enhancement of calamansi industry in Oriental Mindoro was held at theDepartment of Agriculture (DA)-MIMAROPA satellite station, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on 4 October 2021.
DA-MIMAROPA regional executive director Antonio G. Gerundio, together with DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) assistant director for Operations and Technical and Production Services Dr. Jonar I. Yago presided over the meeting.
Joining them were DA-MIMAROPA regional technical director Dr. Louella Rowena J. Lorenzana, Oriental Mindoro provincial agriculturist Christine M. Pine, Mindoro State University (MinSU, formerly known as Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology) president Dr. Levy B. Arago, Jr. among other technical staff and representatives.
DA-BPI assistant director Yago explained that the secretary wanted to expand the calamansi production area, identify existing cultivars or accessions, determine the package of technologies for calamansi production, and establish an indexing facility.
Meanwhile, DA-BAR director Mamaril detailed how the bureau can give its assistance to improve the calamansi industry.
Further, DA-MIMAROPA regional executive director Gerundio provided his inputs on how the regional field office and MinSU can efficiently and effectively work together to address the challenges of the calamansi industry.
Another meeting will be set later this year to discuss the outputs and deliverables of the stakeholders present and ways forward.