Del Monte Foundation (DMFI), in its continuing efforts aligned with the ZEP2030 Movement to uplift the lives of extremely poor families, launched the Citronella Grass Production Project in Dagundalahon, Talakag, Bukidnon on December 22, 202 with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding and ceremonial planting. Talakag is one of the municipalities in the province of Bukidnon with high incidence of poverty.
The project aims to provide livelihood support to target families in Dagundalahon thru the farmers’ association by providing citronella planting materials and organic fertilizer. The families will plant and grow the citronella grass that they will harvest after 8 months and sell as raw material for the production of essential oil. Citronella is an effective repellant of mosquitoes used in making soaps, insect sprays, candles, and aromatherapy. The quadripartite project was entered into by DMFI, the Dagundalahon Highland Farmers’ Association, the barangay council of Dagundalahon, and the local government unit of Talakag thru its Municipal Agriculture Office.
