Mindanao agri producers want to expand production

Big agricultural producers in Mindanao that include Dole Philippines and Del Monte have expressed their intention to expand their production in the province, but are seeking assistance from Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap for more farm- to-market-roads and other agricultural facilities such as water impounding stations.

Following a dialogue with big agricultural growers at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao, Yap told The STAR that big agricultural firms led by Dole and Del Monte expressed their desire to expand their production through more contract growing.

Other big agricultural firms also sought Yap’s assistance in addressing several issues that include financing assistance and duty-free importation of farm inputs such as fertilizers and raw materials for feeds.

Yap was in Mindanao to attend the First Mindanao Corn Farmers’ Congress in Banga, South Cotabato Thursday, March 1, then the 6th Mindanao Fruit Industry Conference in Davao and the Philippine Economic Briefing Domestic Roadshow in Davao.

During his various meetings with corn, fruit and even hog raisers, Yap assured his department’s budgetary support to finance various agri projects including identifying additional lands for growing corn and constructing post-harvest facilities which would help improve production by five to 10 percent.

Yap also vowed to convince his fellow economic managers to allow a "liberalized interpretation of the law" with regard to allowing the duty-free importation of agricultural inputs not only to feed millers but also directly to the farmer-growers and meat processors.

For the fruit industry, Yap cited the DA’s continuing effort to establish more market linkage, both domestic and international.

For this year alone, the DA is targeting a 10-percent growth in fruit exports and has lined up several promotional events in the United Arab Emirates, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia, Germany and ASEAN.

However, Yap also complained to the Mindanao fruit producers that while the DA has been doing its part to establish market linkage, the fruit growers also have to do their part in increasing production to meet demand and to conform with international quality and phytosanitary standards to be able to penetrate new markets and expand in existing ones.