Ways to boost productivity and income will highlight the Mindanao Fruit and Vegetable Summit next month that will highlight the 13th Davao Trade Expo (DATE) here slated on October 20-22.
Mindanao Fruit Council president Atty. Antonio Partoza said the summit will feature a face-to-face encounter between buyers and growers to boost marketing and get rid of the perennial problem of middlemen who take a big bite off the meager income of farmers.
“In the past four or five years, we have been inviting processors, buyers, and farmers to major events basically for them to meet and negotiate/discuss among themselves prices to avoid the entry of middlemen,” Partoza said.
Larry Miculob, of the council’s board of trustees, cited the serious problem of roductivity in the fruit industry of the country triggered by such factors as high cost of inputs, land reform, inadequate support to boost production and lack of technology.
He said Thailand is producing 10 tons of durian per hectare, while the Philippines produces less than two tons per hectare.
He said farmers raising other fruits/crops need more support from government such as the bigger budgetary support provided to the banana and pineapple growers by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
He said farmers need important data on weather, effects of climate change, the total number of hectares planted to fruits, potential areas for fruit farming, and the best fruits for irrigable lands in Mindanao, adding that small fruit growers need more support from government given the high cost of inputs. Bulk of the fruit growers in Mindanao comprise 80 percent (small scale sector).
To improve productivity, Miculob said the council has been advising fruit growers to focus on one crop insread of multiple crop/fruit planting.
“It they think durian is viable, then they should focus on the production of durian and not engage in planting other kinds of fruits,” he said. [PNA]
