ANI, Chinese partner explore opportunities for rice, other crops

MANILA, Philippines - Listed fruit and vegetable grower Agrinurture Inc.(ANI) is exploring opportunities with its Chinese business partner Beidahuang Seed Group of China for the expansion of its production areas.

A team from Beidahuang visited over the weekend Agrinurture’s juice manufacturing plant in Pulilan, Bulacan;  rice mill in Arayat, Pampanga and demonstration farm, in Dau, Pampanga.

ANI president and CEO Antonio Tiu said their Chinese partner is also interested in “further investing” in other high value crops and cold chain storage systems.

“It’s perfect for ANI’s core business,” he said in an email over the weekend. “There are a few potentials that we can’t disclose yet.”

ANI partnered with Beidahuang Seed Group Co. Ltd. in late 2010 to form Beidahuang Philippines which concentrates on the production of high-yielding hybrid rice seeds.

In 2011, ANI announced that it would start hybrid rice production in 2,000 hectares in Central Luzon that would be expanded to 10,000 hectares over a three-year period.

An initial investment of P100 million to P200 million was allotted for the program.

In May, the company announced that it is expanding its banana cultivation area and improving its cold chain storage facilities to increase its export sales.

The company has acquired a 1,000-hectare banana plantation in Mindanao which would add 40,000 metric tons of Cavendish banana to its annual production. An investment of  P1 billion was made for the acquisition of the plantation.

ANI has been expanding its banana cultivation area to improve supply of the fruit for export in anticipation of increased overseas demand.

The company currently ships banana and other fruits such as coconut, mangoes, pineapple and papaya to the Middle East, China, and North America and Europe, among others.

ANI is also engaged in the commercial distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables to retail establishments as well as to hotels, restaurants, public wet markets and catering companies. These are done through its three subsidiaries, First Class Agriculture (FCA), Fresh and Green (FG), and Lucky Fruit and Vegetables (LF).

It also manufactures fruit beverages through its subsidiaries M2000 Imex in Bulacan, Hansung Agro in FTI Taguig and Fruitilicious in Cagayan de Oro. M2000 Imex manufactures fruit beverages such as mango nectar, tamarind juice, coco juice and coffee.