The malapapaya industry gets a further boost with the approval of ‘Enhancement of the malapapaya industry in Laguna and Quezon’ – a project for a PCARRD-led science and technology-based farm. The Governing Council (GC), the highest policy-making body of PCARRD, approved the malapapaya program during its 312th meeting held on September 27 at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Headquarters. The GC is chaired by DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro.

The malapapaya program specifically will identify appropriate malapapaya-agroforestry system under coconut-based farm; determine the most appropriate postharvest technology, as well as the best harvesting and most appropriate transport system; analyze the costs and returns of malapapaya agroforestry strategies, harvest and transport systems, and pest and disease management; and disseminate technologies and information to selected stakeholders. It includes four projects namely, 1) Malapapaya-agroforestry production technology for coconut farms; 2) Management of postharvest pests of malapapaya from malapapaya-coconut farms; 3) Sustainable

harvesting, delivery, and transport systems for malapapaya in a coconut-malapapaya agroforestry scheme; and 4) Financial analysis of coconut-malapapaya agroforestry system.

The malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa) is used for the manufacture of wood spoons and sticks for ice cream, bento boxes for the fast food chains, and wood furniture. Malapapaya processors in Laguna and Quezon use malapapaya logs harvested from natural stands. With the approval of the malapapaya program and in coordination with different stakeholders, the industry in Laguna and Quezon will be further enhanced through science and technology interventions.

Implementing agencies for the malapapaya program include DOST’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute, the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, which will also serve as the coordinating agency. The program will be implemented in cooperation with the officials of local government units , coconut farmers, private individuals, nongovernment offices, and other stakeholders under the Techno Gabay Program spearheaded by PCARRD.

The malapapaya program shall run for about three years with a total budget of P4.35 million, 59% of which will be provided by PCARRD. (Ma. Rowena M. Baltazar and Dalisay E. Cabral, S&T Media Service)