The Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC), Western Philippines University (WPU), the Local Government Unit of Bataraza and people’s organizations from Barangay Bulalacao have launched a one-hectare pineapple plantation at the WPU-Rio Tuba campus as part of a partnership aimed at developing livelihood, agricultural processing, research and skills training in the community.
The plantation is targeted to produce around 8,000 to 10,000 pineapple plants and will serve as a production site for WPU-Rio Tuba’s ongoing dried pineapple initiative.
The partners also plan to conduct research and develop pineapple jam production, creating opportunities for students, faculty and community members to gain experience in agricultural production, processing and value-adding.
The project is being implemented under RTNMC’s Social Development and Management Program, particularly its Development of Mining Technology and Geosciences component.
The initiative supports Sustainable Development Goal 17, or Partnerships for the Goals, by bringing together the private sector, academe, local government and community organizations to develop a shared livelihood and learning enterprise in Rio Tuba.
Through the project, the partners aim to establish a production-to-processing-to-value-adding system that can strengthen local livelihood opportunities while promoting technology, research and professional development.
